Berkley’s Stimulus Wasted Over $6 Million On This Solar Boondoggle
American taxpayers are seeing $20 million more of their money washed down the tube via the Obama-Berkley stimulus plan, as an Amonix solar energy plant in North Las Vegas – which has received stimulus dollars – closed their doors after being open for just 14 months.
Thanks to President Obama, Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid and embattled Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Amonix received $6 million in federal tax credits and was also the recipient of a $15.6 million grant from the Department of Energy.
As the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports:
The Amonix solar manufacturing plant in North Las Vegas, heavily financed under an Obama administration energy initiative, has closed its 214,000-square-foot facility 14 months after it opened. … A designer and manufacturer of concentrated photovoltaic solar power systems, Amonix received $6 million in federal tax credits and a $15.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build the plant in North Las Vegas. (Hubble Smith, onix closes North Las Vegas solar plant after 14 months, heavy federal subsidies, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 7/18/12)
“It’s another day and another painful reminder for Nevada taxpayers that Shelley Berkley and Barack Obama have spent the last three years wasting their hard earned money on failed programs,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) RSC Spokesman Jahan Wilcox.
BACKGROUND …
Since 2010, Berkley Has Supported $5.9 Million In Federal Stimulus Funding Granted To Amonix, Inc., To Construct A Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility In Nevada
Berkley Press Release, January 2010: “Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today announced that solar cell manufacturer Amonix will receive $5.9 million in federal stimulus funding to create clean energy manufacturing jobs in Nevada. Berkley was notified by the White House about the funding to bring the new solar manufacturing jobs to Nevada this afternoon.
“This funding will be used to create Nevada jobs involved in the manufacturing of highly efficient solar panels that increase the amount of clean energy that can be harnessed from every ray of sunshine. (Press Release, “$5.9 Million In Stimulus Funding Awarded To Create New Nevada Solar Manuacturing (sic) Jobs,” Office of Rep. Shelley Berkley, Jan. 8, 2010)
