Taxpayers did not finance solar farm in Canada
Re: “Firm sells solar panels — to itself, taxpayers pay,” March 20
After reading Tim Carney’s column, Examiner readers might assume that First Solar sold panels to itself, and that taxpayer money was at risk. Neither is true.
Though the Ex-Im Bank did originally propose a financing arrangement to support the export of solar panels from our 1,250-worker Ohio factory to the project in Canada, the transaction recently closed without Ex-Im financing. No taxpayer money was involved.
The owner of the solar panels, and the Canadian project they were exported to, is one of the world’s leading renewable energy investors, NextEra. And while Carney implies this was a hasty transaction, it was announced in 2010. Carney also references $15 million in loans from Ohio, but those loans went to another manufacturer in no way related to First Solar.
Finally, just to be clear, the solar panels are being used in a solar farm, not a wind farm, as Carney wrote. Such wanton disregard for the facts do a disservice to the readers of The Washington Examiner.
Ted Meyer
Vice president, corporate communications
First Solar, Inc.
D.C. voters should follow Tea Party’s lead
Re: “The magic of Vincent Gray,” March 19
As Jonetta Rose Barras chronicles the successes and failures of former mayors of the District of Columbia, she also mentions that positive changes have occurred as a result of the many problems experienced by sitting Mayor Vincent Gray.
Barras states: “Without problems in Gray’s campaign, the D.C. Council probably wouldn’t have examined all those do-nothing political appointees. They wouldn’t have forced reductions in executive pay. They wouldn’t be considering swift passage of campaign legislation introduced by Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Tommy Wells; their bill may exceed the proposal being pushed as a November general election initiative.”
One cannot argue with these points. However, Barras misses a very important part of the equation. Since the advent of Home Rule, the residents of the District have, for myriad reasons, consistently elected individuals who have been more intent on perpetuating their own interests than being stewards for the city. Subsequently, a culture of cronyism, nepotism and corruption has been accepted as the norm rather than the exception.
Residents have a golden opportunity to begin plotting a new course with the upcoming primary and special elections. They should begin by adopting a page from the playbook of the Tea Party and send a bold, resounding message to the “professional politicians” by not re-electing any of them.
Marvin E. Adams
Washington
Beware of criticizing others for language misuse
Re: “Democrats have a blatant double standard on civility,” March 19
After Gregory Kane chides Bill Maher for referring to Sarah Palin’s child with “Down’s syndrome,” he continues: “Oh, by the way Bill, it’s DOWN Syndrome, not Down’s. Lay off the drugs and you’ll probably remember that next time.”
To what drugs does Kane ascribe his own amusing belief that he has “cuckolds” warming in his heart? Perhaps Kane should also learn that the description of the condition described by Dr. Down has been known as both Down’s syndrome and Down syndrome.
As for those things in his heart? They have always been “cockles” for people who know English.
Richard Herrell
Washington