Issa Seeks Docs on $4.75B in Solar Guarantees

Monday, 10 Oct 2011 12:57 PM

Republicans are expanding their investigation into a U.S. loan-guarantee program beyond solar- panel maker Solyndra LLC to four awards issued on the clean- energy effort’s final day.

Representative Darrell Issa, a California Republican and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, wrote Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Oct. 7 requesting documents relating to $4.75 billion won by four solar projects on Sept. 30, when funding for the program ran out.

Republicans have said Solyndra’s $535 million loan guarantee was rushed for political considerations, leading federal reviewers of the loan to overlook evidence the Fremont, California, solar panel maker was a risky bet. Solyndra filed for bankruptcy protection on Sept. 6.

The guarantees “given on the last day of the program raise similar concerns,â€