When speaking about any controversy involving green energy the Solyndra scandal is one that cannot go without a mention. Solyndra was a California U.S. solar panel manufacturing company. The company produced cylindrical panels of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). They sold solar photovoltaic systems composed of panels and mounting hardware for large, low-slope commercial rooftops. These were to be mounted horizontally rather than vertically for maximum coverage and energy production.

Solyndra filed chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011. This was only two years after the U.S. government guaranteed a loan worth $535 million; this was done under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Solyndra then made the decision to close all operations and lay off 1100 employees after the board members could not chose or find a way to get money into the business. These innovative solar panels were very high priced and the company did not have enough lager company customers to create the proper capital to stay afloat. Harrison and Stover then filed bankruptcy.

After this was done, the FBI and treasuries department held an investigation. The Obama Administration once believed that Solyndra was going to be he breakthrough for solar energy pushing forward with the enhancement of “green jobs”. It is known that most businesses do not hold the taxpayers responsible for potential losses when they fail. Therefore it must be known that it is a tricky situation when political investment is involved in furthering or helping companies like this. It allows for political favoritism for the powerful and can hurt rather than benefit the taxpayers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/solyndra-scandal-timeline/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solyndra

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/obama-fundraises-with-players-in-solyndra-scandal/