Report: Dems Helping Chinese Get $450 Million in Stimulus Money
- Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:11am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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A Chinese-run wind farm in Texas is hoping to get $450 million in stimulus money, and the effort and its backers are being connected to a group of Washington lobbyists and a prominent Democratic politician.
The extensive investigative report by MSNBC connects powerful Democratic donors and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) to the Chinese company behind the project:
WASHINGTON — Top Democratic fundraisers and lobbyists with links to the White House are behind a proposed wind farm in Texas that stands to get $450 million in stimulus money, even though a Chinese company would operate the farm and its turbines would be built in China.
The farm’s backers also have close ties with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who, at the height of his hard-fought re-election bid this fall, helped blunt congressional criticism over stimulus dollars possibly going to create jobs in China by endorsing a proposal by the Chinese company to build a factory in his home state. Although his campaign received thousands of dollars in donations from the wind farm’s backers and Reid stood on stage with them at a campaign event they hosted, his office declined to answer any questions about the wind farm’s organizers or their plans for Nevada.
The wind farm, first announced more than a year ago, would consist of 300 2-megawatt wind turbines, each perched atop a 26-story-tall steel tower and spinning three blades — each half the length of a football field. The farm would span three counties and 36,000 acres in West Texas land best known for its oil. Dubbed the Spinning Star wind farm, the project’s 600-megawatt capacity is, theoretically, enough to power 180,000 American homes and would be the sixth-largest wind farm in the country.
It is being planned by an unusual joint partnership between the U.S. Renewable Energy Group, a Dallas investment firm with strong ties to Washington and the Democratic Party, and A-Power Energy Generation Systems, an upstart Chinese supplier of wind turbines. Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicate the Chinese are bringing financing and the turbines.
What the Americans are supplying is the local know-how and political clout in Washington, where decisions on how to distribute billions in loan guarantees, stimulus grants and financial incentives are made.
The clock is ticking for Spinning Star: To claim the stimulus grant it must arrange its financing and begin work on the wind farm by Dec. 31. Besides the $450 million stimulus grant, A-Power’s SEC filings indicate the joint-venture also will pursue a Department of Energy-backed loan guarantee. According to the SEC filings, the project is waiting to hear if it will receive the loan guarantee before financing will follow to build the turbines.
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Comments (113)
TrueToTheCoreAmerican
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:31amWhy would this country, the Democrats, even consider giving China more of our tax dollars? If they insist on investing in an energy technology shouldn’t it be done through AMERICAN companies? I would think so. And all this wind power crap… it could NEVER fulfill the energy needs of this country. Hey, lets see if we can get our military vehicles and jets to fly on wind power. How far will that go?
Democrats not only have warped minds they also have warped personalities.
Report Post »randy
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:31amWhere are all the people who took the oath of office? Why is no one speaking up?
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:29amHAHAHAHA LET ME GET THE STAIGHT. We BORROW money from the Chinese at high interest rates, then we GIVE it back to them in the from of STIMULUS dollars? That’s rich.
Report Post »goodinohio
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:29amLets give Iran a few billion to build us a nuclear power plant.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:28amReading stuff like this just keeps reminding me that we are no longer headed to the cliff but have gone over. all so unbelievable.
Report Post »Moocephus
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:27amThis is why America is weak. Don’t blame the Chinese. Don’t blame the Saudis. This is an inside job. The selling of America for what? A Senate seat? If you want the position SO bad that you would do this. America doesn’t need you.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:25amI just do not know what we are doing anymore. Have we sold this country so far down the road that this doesn’t even register? I guess so!
Report Post »AsBrokeAsAmerica
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:24amBusiness as usual huh you crooked bastards.? An upstart Chinese supplier of wind turbines for only $450 million in Stimulus money ain’t that great. No god forbid it be an American supplier! But since the Gov has pretty much wiped American manufacturing from the country of course the Chinese get the contract because we have no factories. The USA is just one giant consumer! Reid won the election only because he cheated with rigged voting machines. Once were Bankrupt as a Nation I guess they will just sell the entire country to the highest bidder..
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:24amsedition, treason, violation of his oath of office–yeah, sounds like a good leader for the democrat senate. Dollars to doughnuts there won’t be a vocal outrage on the senate floor from a republican senator
Report Post »REVENANT
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:23amHarry Reid, lining communists pockets with your money.
Report Post »Conserving Ink
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:23amThey already have all our money, how could they possibly need more? Don‘t they realize we didn’t give them a stimulus, we gave them an IOU?
Report Post »_____________________________________________________________
http://conserving-ink.blogspot.com/2010/12/30-day-and-half-full-glass.html
IAMMADDOG
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:22amUnbelievable. We cannot be rid of these evil (I no longer consider them stupid or ignorant) holier than thou ruling class jerks.
Report Post »IAMMADDOG
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 2:23pmShould have ended that last one with “fast enough”.
Report Post »Okieflyover
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:22amWhere are the elected officials that are standing up against this?
Why are we allowing so much to be pushed through in the a Lame Duck session? Rules should be changed that no appropriations issues get approved during a lame duck session. There was plenty of time to address the budget and spending over the last 2 years. We have no reason to allow this to get slammed in 2 weeks before the new Congress comes in.
Report Post »jrcess
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:22amReid is a crook. You can bet 4 to 5 million is being paid under the table. Scum like this is ruining our country.
Report Post »bleuze
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:36pmJust read that the head of the AFL-CIO leader got a honor from the Communist party. It looks like Hary and his buddies are all in on it. The union helped Harry win Nevada. Union members should just quit. Afterall, unions are not really needed anymore and the Dems with the help of the unions are screwing up our country!
Report Post »Right in Oregon
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:22amThis just blows me away. Where is Gov Rick Perry on this deal? They will sneak in Cap & Trade anyway they can. You got to watch both hands — can’t take your eye off anything. Tax cuts are front and center and this thing will get passed without notice. We need to take our government back, the sooner the better.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Report Post »crossdraw
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:22amCommie swine helping Commie swine. It just keeps getting better and better. Along with your ammo should be a wrist rocket, a blow gun and darts and a crossbow. Don’t forget radio controlled airplanes either. They have drones so we should as well. Your day is coming commies. America has a cancerous growth and it Will be removed.
Report Post »GeauxAlready
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:21amHe must love bending over……….
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:20amsedition, treason, violation of his oath of office–yeah, sounds like a good leader for the democrat senate. Dollars to doughnuts there won’t be a vocal outrage on the senate floor from a republican senator.
Report Post »Sandy
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:20amCrap like this is why Obama says we’ll be able to export more. However, I believe he doesn‘t ’get it’ that this will be imports and Chinese workers working for $2 – $10 per day while Americans draw unemployment to buy stuff from the Chinese so we can borrow more money.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:20amTheoretically it would work powering 180000 theoretical houses for theoretical employment of Americas people while the money will in acutallity again pass straight into the hands of an overseas company who the government is simply bribing and backing so their own reality will be set in on the people of our great coutry for the Progressives own delusional state of consciousness…
Guess what, the reality is Americans understand manuer when we see it and smell it.
Washington, that is reality not some theory!!!
WE will WIN!!!
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 1:06pmThats great Snow, but as long as we have uninformed idiots voting in NEVADA and Ca and all over this great country we lose since, for now, we are at the mercy of these corrupt polititions.
Report Post »csbulldog
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 6:04pmWe are already covered up with those awful useless windmills!! They chase away all the birds, so insects have multiplied disproportionately. They are unreliable (I know several people who work on them) They are already subsidized to the tune of over 60%!!! In Texas, we get to choose our retail power provider and wind power is THE most expensive, so nobody uses it, except for a few of the brain cell challenged folks. I’m in West Texas near Abilene and believe me, Chicago has nothing on us when it comes to wind! If a company can come up with a viable product without my tax dollars, more POWER to ‘em!
Report Post »Konservative PUNK
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:19amREID is selling out America!! Thereareseveral American companies that can run this farm AND build the turbines!!! STOP SENDING OUR MONEY TO CHINA!!!!
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:28amHere’s the rub… None of those other companies passed an envelope stuffed with cash to our upstanding politicians.
These dirt-bags will have a great $$$ Christmas $$$. Maybe its time I took a break from the madness before I ruin the holidays for my kids and grandkids.
PatriotShops.com
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 4:45pmthis green crap is just that crap just one look at spain and you can see it dont work. this bunch of ******** have thrown our money at everything that dont work. its time to throw them all in jail for this spending spree.
Report Post »FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:18amShameful to say the least. Reid is such a lowlife. Another career politician lining his pockets at the expense of us all. Note to mention helping the Chinese, what about helping an American company Mr Reid…..VICTORY OR DEATH
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:31amHarry is a senile old COMMIE! He stole his seat back. (bribery, fraud and coercion)
Report Post »Reagan/Demint.deciple
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:16am??????????????????????? Out of words……..
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:51amHow about hypocrite? Wasn’t it just yesterday that the story came out that they were concerned about the amount of money going overseas?
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:52am…granted this is technically not “overseas,” being in Texas, but let’s not split hairs. The oney is going to the Chinese. Texas or Beijing makes no nevermind.
Report Post »Konservative PUNK
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:16amThe Chinese just can’t lose. We borrow their money (that came from us) so we can pay them to take more from us so we can borrow from them to pay them back for the money they got from us.
Report Post »docvet
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 1:02pmHeaven forbid we use that money to reduce the Chinese debt. They get the dollars and they can do anything they want with it then. What, that money is a drop in the bucket? OK, at least there will be one more drop in the bucket. I’ve paid off large bills with small consistant payments over time.
There is a post of commies support commies. Hmmmm, point possibility?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:15amSometimes these stories piss me off so bad I can’t even finish reading them.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:20am@Untamable kate. check the commentary I left, hope it will cheer you up a bit.
BQI
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:24amI feel ya.
Try reading BQI’s piece on Ayn Rand. I promise, you will get through it. :-)
http://www.blackquillandink.com
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:24amI hear ya!
PatriotShops.com
Report Post »BlazingPatriot
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:25amJust another secretive deal the liberal dems are trying to pull off against the will of the American people. Kudos to MSNBC for exposing this shameful travesty!
Report Post »LtdGovt
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:33amAbsolutely! Unbelievable that these anti-American politicians are still in office and all due to foreign and union contributions. I am so SICK and FED UP with this CRAP! Between this and the Dream Act, I am pissed off beyond belief. Let’s take our country back! They thought there was a rebellion in 2010? They haven’t seen anything! Wait till the next election cycle! THROW OUT THE SELF-SERVING TYRANTS AND THEIR PROGRESSIVE/SOCIALIST/COMMUNIST AGENDA!
Report Post »DonnaA
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 11:57amditto
Report Post »Rubicon
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:22pmThat’s so funny you posted that, that’s exactly what I just did. Started to read the article and got so upset, went straight for the comments. I feel exactly the same as you.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:30pmNo need to read on .. we know that they are plotting against the American TAXPAYERS.
Report Post »kb1200cc
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:38pmBINGO!!! I got 2/3 of the way through and had to stop or puke!
Report Post »Miguelito
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 1:03pmWhat about taking that 450 million and give it to the people who pay U.S. taxes. Wake up America!
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 1:28pmHow about give the stimulus money to an AMERCAN manufacturing company and how about BUILD THEM IN AMERICA SO AMERICANS CAN HAVE JOBS.
Report Post »nordspan
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 1:39pmIs there any SANITY left in Washington? Really.
Report Post »Godseyesareonthem
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 2:12pmIf you live in the south you know the only kind of wind in Texas comes from tornadoes. Another waste of the stimilus money. You read that it was theoretical that it could possibly power electric power to 180.000 homes. ( Dorothy, we are not in Kansas no more.) What a bunch of morons!!! But speaking of morons would we expect any less of them? Remember we are a bunch of Homer Simpsons a big bunch of dumb dumbs. Keep the faith, God has a special place for them!!!
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 2:19pmHarry Reid = Scum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8DnA4Ro9tQ
Report Post »TylerD
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 3:02pmThis wouldn’t be so bad if it were private money going to a private business in China. The fact that it is government funds going to China is the problem. But is everyone this upset over farm or oil subsidies pushed by Republicans? The point is simply that government money is in the private sector at all. In a global economy, deals will need to get done (”I help you, you help me”). If China has something that can help a business here, then a trade-off is not a bad thing. This doesn’t address how many jobs will be created in the US, but if there are some it will be a plus (again, if it were private money not government funds). If we have to help another country out to help ourselves in the long run, then so be it. But let the individual’s do it, not the government. People can scream bloody murder all they want whenever they see something about Democrats spending money, but Republicans do the same thing on different issues without the outcry.
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 4:31pmits time to march on dc and remove them all from our government and into the nearst jail. how much longer are we going to sit quietly screaming at our tvs and computers? its time to surround dc and clean house of all the garbage thats become our government. its time to call for all of them to resign and surrender to the law. or do we wait till they destroy everything before we act? enough is enough!
Report Post »wai2000.com
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:01pmThis really does make the blood boil.
Report Post »ME
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:02pm@untameable-kate
best firsties ever!!! I could not finish this one and then seen your perfect comment
Report Post »jds7171
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:25pmThe redistribution of wealth globably conitinues……
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