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House GOP widening scope of Solyndra probe, wants answers from White House
House Republicans are planning to widen the scope of an investigation into a California solar company that declared bankruptcy last month after receiving a $535 million loan guarantee from the Obama administration.
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight panel, said Tuesday that he will examine a wide array of loan guarantees approved by the Department of Energy under the Obama administration.
“We can’t reveal the other ones we’re looking at, but we’re certainly looking at loan guarantees made through the Department of Energy related to solar panels, biofuels and the energy grid,” Stearns told reporters after giving a speech at the conservative Heritage Foundation.
“We’re just trying to understand how much the White House was involved in this,” Stearns said. “Were they involved in this tangentially or were they the leading drive on this? And if so, what does that mean?”
Stearns said Republicans would consider issuing a subpoena to the White House if officials do not quickly comply with the documents request. That final decision on whether to move forward with the process of issuing a subpoena is up to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Stearns said.
“If the White House for some reason does not give them to us, then the question that Mr. Upton, the chairman, will have to decide is whether to subpoena them,” he said.
Republicans on the panel voted to subpoena the White House Office of Management and Budget in July after they said the administration was reluctant to provide all of their requested documents. While OMB ultimately complied with their request, Stearns said more documents are now necessary.
Stearns will chair a hearing Wednesday on the Solyndra bankruptcy, where officials from OMB and the Energy Department are expected to testify. While Stearns invited Solyndra President Brian Harrison and Chief Financial Officer W.G. Stover Jr., Stearns said it is unclear whether they will testify Wednesday.
The Solyndra officials have agreed to testify in front of the panel, and have said they will not plead the fifth, Stearns said. But they have asked if they can testify next week.
Solyndra announced late last month that it would suspend its manufacturing operations and lay off 1,100 employees, effective immediately. The company said it intends to file a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The California-based company received a $535 million stimulus loan guarantee from the Energy Department in 2009 to help finance the construction of a new plant to manufacture solar panels. Republicans have raised questions about the wisdom of the Obama administration approving the loan guarantee, citing a series of setbacks the company has faced in recent years.
Solyndra announced last year that it would close a plant, lay off employees and delay the expansion of its newest facility. It also canceled plans to go public.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans launched an investigation into the loan guarantee in February, alleging that the administration didn’t adequately vet the company’s financial situation.
