White House and DOE Distort NPR Story With Stearns' Comments on Competing With China
Press Release
In an effort to distract attention from Energy Secretary Chu's and the Administration's malfeasance with Solyndra, the Department of Energy and the White House are distorting comments made by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, during an interview on NPR. In the interview, Stearns noted that the United States can't compete with China in manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines and that we should focus on investing in research and development in the technologies where we have a competitive advantage. In the story, NPR reporter Yuki Noguchi quotes Stearns, " where solar is concerned, it makes more sense to invest in research and development on technology where the U.S. still has a chance of winning."
Responding to the attacks by the White House and Department of Energy, Stearns points out, "We can't compete with China's low labor costs, its access to raw materials, its lack of environmental and safety regulations in manufacturing, and the burdensome regulations imposed by the Obama Administration. Instead, we need to utilize our advantages in technology and innovation to become more competitive in the global market. China and developing countries have clear advantages in manufacturing certain products -- How many TVs, computers, or t-shirts are made in the United States? Just like solar panels, they're made overseas because it's more economical -- and making solar power and other renewables more economical will allow them to flourish in our nation."
Concluded Stearns, "Given that the Administration knew that Solyndra would fail and it still committed $535 million of taxpayer funds, that it subordinated the taxpayers to private hedge investors in violation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 during the loan restructuring, and that Solyndra is the target of a criminal investigation by the FBI, I understand why they want to avoid the facts."
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