Green Businesses Going Bankrupt

Although environmentally-conscious people have been attempting to raise awareness for decades, the ever-popular movement to “Go Green” has only begun to gain attention from the general public in recent years. From conserving water and electricity to recycling plastic and cans to purchasing products that contain natural ingredients versus harmful ones, more and more citizens are making a conscious effort to make a difference.

As always, when something becomes trendy, more and more people want to be a part of it.


Entrepreneurs quickly realized that going green for the planet also offered the possibility of adding green to their bank accounts. Multiple green businesses manufacturing earth-friendly products like solar panels—an alternative energy source—began sprouting up in states across the country, from Colorado to California.  

Solar Energy Companies 
One such green business in Colorado was Abound Solar, a manufacturer of cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic modules used to convert sunlight into electricity. Abound is often compared to Solyndra, a green company based in Fremont, California that also manufactured thin-film solar cells.

It initially appeared that companies like Abound and Solyndra were going green and going strong. After all, the idea of finding a natural alternative to coal is an exciting one! The government thinks solar energy is a good idea, too.  

Businesses Borrowing Green to Go Green
Maybe it’s more accurate to say that the government thought solar energy was a good idea.

Solyndra received a $25.1 million tax break from California’s Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority, the majority of which came from the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Abound received a $400 million loan from the U.S. government in 2010. Then Solyndra declared bankruptcy in February 2012. Abound did the same in June 2012 after it laid off roughly 125 workers.

Jaws dropped, and DenverPost.com reported that angry Republicans had launched an attack on the Obama administration and how they handled federal loan guarantees for Abound and other green Colorado businesses. Some even went as far as claiming that Abound knowingly sold defective panels, which were essentially manufactured with government dollars. Abound and other companies claim that they could no longer compete with Chinese competitors.

Ironically, all of this bad press has given the now-defunct green businesses more attention after filing for bankruptcy than they had while they were still in business.  
Green Businesses Causing Taxpayers to Lose Green
Solyndra and Abound Solar were not the only greenbusinesses to receive government assistance, and unfortunately, they were not the only ones to file bankruptcy or appear to be heading in that direction. Others include:

• Evergreen Solar
• SpectraWatt
• Beacon Power
• Nevada Geothermal
• SunPower
• First Solar
• Babcock and Brown
• EnerDel’s subsidiary Ener1
• Amonix

Some people remain optimistic for green businesses despite the Colorado situation and other green business bankruptcies. “For this to become a political issue is ridiculous. Every business startup goes through a metamorphosis. Unfortunately, some fail. But renewable energy should be a bipartisan initiative,” Claudine Schneider of Boulder, Colorado—a Republican and former five-term congresswoman from Rhode Island—told DenverPost.com.

This article was guest written by Jon Reiter.  He is a marketing agent for www.jonbclarke.com/ an experienced Denver bankruptcy attorney.

Finding Agreement Between the Left and Right

If the election has accomplished anything it has show us just how bitter and divided of a nation we are.  No parties exchanged power in either house of Congress, and a president who was elected overwhelmingly 4 years ago barely won the popular vote as he won a tight reelection in which he received barely more votes than his opponent in 2008 received.  Both sides are still pitted against each other refusing to give an inch as we face the nation's difficult economical and fiscal problems.

Before the election I saw something very humorous on facebook.  Two people from very different backgrounds liked the same article about a political issue, and both had almost identical sentiments about the article.  The first is my good friend Pat Hall.  She has worked tirelessly for many liberal candidates on the local level.  She strongly supported Barack Obama in 2008, and 2012.  She supported the Occupy Wall Street movement from the beginning, and can't stand the Tea Party, Fox News, et al... because they are too conservative and destroying the country.

On the other hand is Donna Holt.  She was Tea Party before Tea Party existed.  She lead the Campaign 4 Liberty movement in VA from the beginning as she has worked tirelessly to promote help Ron Paul win the nomination in both the 2008 and 2012 election cycles.  She was under 1% away from unseating someone endorsed by practically every Republican leader in the state in the race for Republican National Committeewoman this summer.  While I don't know this, I wouldn't be surprised if Fox News is too liberal for her.

While both these are tireless political activists as a result of their deep love for their country, they are seemingly on opposite ends of the political spectrum.  Last month they both shared an article entitled 10 Bankers Thrown Behind Bars.  Pat Hall commented, "let's keep this up but I don't see any of the biggies yet."  Similarly Donna Holt commented, "Too little, too late if you ask me."   



While there will always be disagreement in a political world, seeing this made me wonder what other issues could the left and right find common ground on.  Only by working together can anything be accomplished.  I bet there are a number of issues where 60+% of the nation agree.  What issues can be found where people from both sides can work together?  What solutions to problems can we put forth that a broad spectrum of people would agree with?    We will always have differences, but when we can focus politically on what we agree about instead, we will be able to accomplish things and reduce the bitter partisanship that is destroying the present political climate.

Domestic Oil Production Up - Thanks to Obama?

As you may know, domestic oil production has risen steadily the past couple years under Obama. But does he deserve credit as he has claimed? Actually the opposite is the case. Obama and his administration may actually soon hurt our domestic oil production. US oil production is up due to oil from the Bakken Oilfield (northern plains) and the Eagle Ford Oilfield (south Texas). This article from NewsMax summarizes the story well. In short a new technique called "fracturing" is making this oil production possible. More on fracturing and the Bakken Oilfield below:
Via: BakkenResidenceSuites.com

Which Election are Virginia Republican 2013 Candidates Focused on?

Virginia is the rare state that has important elections every year, and one only two states to elect it's governor the year after the presidential election.  This creates an interesting balancing act for those running for statewide office following the presidential election.  As the 2012 election winds down, it is worth looking at who has focused their attention on which race over the previous year.

The Governor's race features a heavyweight match up between Ken Cuccinelli and Bill Bolling.  The issue of focus has been a minor issue in this election.  Prior to the VA State Convetion, Bill Bolling accused Cuccinelli of being focused on 2013 instead of 2012.  Ironically those of us at the convention couldn't mention the numerous Bolling staff wearing blue Bolling 2013 shirts.  Walking billboards for a man focused on 2012. While both men have been active on the campaign trail for this year's candidates, Cuccinelli has been clearly outworking Bolling.  The way he has gone all in for Romney has been crucial in bringing the far right on board in support of Romney in the state, and he has been a powerful voice for the Property Rights Amendment.  Their FB cover pictures also tell an interesting story.  One person is entirely focused on 2012.  The other wants to make sure the limelight is focused on himself as he supports Romney and Allen.

In the Lieutenant Governor's race, we have five announced candidates, and potentially others on the sidelines.  I'm going to mention those who stand out for various reasons.

Steve Martin wins the award for the most creative way to build name ID for his race while helping elect the Republican ticket in 2012.  Shortly after the Chick-fil-a protest occurred this summer, Steve Martin's campaign came up with a novel idea.  Steve Martin was going to host call parties at VA Victory Centers around the state and serve those who came to volunteer Chick-fil-a dinners.  It simultaneously attracted those who had recently fallen in love with Chick-fil-a, helped the VA Victory effort, and built his named ID around the state.  Steve Martin regularly reports that these call parties exceed the call goals for the victory centers.  Combined with rallies for campaigns and organizations, Steve Martin is easily the most aggressive campaigner this year of all the announced Republican Lieutenant Governor candidates.

Susan Stimpson on the other hand stands out as a pundit and an observer focused on her own race, instead of someone who is working hard to campaign for the Republican ticket.  If you've been on facebook, you've probably seen ads for her fb page.  She's had both the traditional ads, and the new sponsored ads all encouraging people to like her page.  When you view her page, it is full of commentary on the presidential debates, and the latest polling data, as well as her record in Stafford.  What it does not show is her campaigning for the Republican ticket.  Look for the pictures of her at Republican rallies and Victory Centers around the state.  They as well as a steady stream of statuses urging people to get involved in this election do not appear anywhere on her very active fb page.  That is for one reason, she has been the candidate for 2013 state office most absent from the 2012 elections.

One can not talk about Lieutenant Governor candidates working hard in the 2012 cycle without mentioning Pete Snyder.  Rumors abound that the position of VA Victory Director was created to catapult Pete Snyder into the Lieutenant Governor's race.  Only time will tell whether those rumors are true, but if so it will be undeniable which LG candidate worked hardest to elect the Republican ticket in 2012.

The Attorney General's race is quite unique.  Rob Bell and Mark Obenshain sponsored the VA Property Rights Amendment in the House and Senate respectively.  They are both using this opportunity to build their profile around the state by campaigning aggressively for the amendment.  Whichever one wins the nomination, this state will have helped this state because their 2013 race motivated them to campaign extra hard for this important issue.

What are your thoughts?  What did I miss?  Will the way candidates focused on 2012 impact who you vote for in 2013?

Support the VA Property Rights Amendment

This Tuesday, Virginians will have the important opportunity to enshrine Property Rights as a fundamental right in VA.  There are a couple FAQs to know about the Property Rights Amendment.
  

Q. What are my property rights? Why aren’t these enough? 
A. Currently, Article I, Section 11 of the state Constitution provides that “just compensation” must be paid when property is taken or damaged for public use. But the current Constitution leaves it to the Virginia General Assembly to define “public use.” Accordingly, government officials in Virginia have been able to confiscate property for uses that are not truly public (such as economic development). And when they do take land, they have been able to force property owners to accept less as compensation than what they are losing.
  
Q. Why is the proposed Property Rights Amendment better?
A. It does three things to stop government overreaching when it takes land, and from underpaying property owners. First, it clarifies that government can take private property only when the land will be for projects the public will actually use (such as transportation and schools – not private projects that will only benefit developers) – it makes the words “public use” mean what they say. Second, it will end the systematic shortchanging of Virginians who lose their business to a condemnation or see their property’s value severely diminished when their highway access is cut off. And third, it enshrines the right of private property ownership as a fundamental right, recognizing that it has the same status in the eyes of the law as the rights of freedom of speech or religion. 

You should also watch this video from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on why this is an important issue.


Two other great resources for learning more about the amendment are from the VA Family Foundation, and Mark Obenshain-the senator who sponsored the amendment. Remember, when you go to vote, don't stop with the elections.  Make sure you Vote Yes on the first amendment on the ballot.