Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

Speaking in Ohio yesterday, President Obama said he’s careful never to become the colloquial definition of insanity:

“I don’t know about you, but in my life what I’ve found, you know, sometimes I do boneheaded things, I make mistakes,” Obama said. “I find, when I try something that doesn’t work, then I don’t try it again. I don’t – you don’t go back to doing something that didn’t work.”

Then, less than ten minutes later, who’s up for some more “green energy” investments?

“We’re going to invest in American energy,” Obama said. “Yes, we want to continue to expand our production of oil and natural gas, but I also want to make sure we are the leaders in solar and biodiesel – the energy of the future that can help reduce dependence on foreign oil.”

The Obama administration spent $9 billion on solar and wind projects from 2009 to 2011 resulting in the creation of 910 “direct jobs,” according to a report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which is part of the Energy Department.

A study by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, found that 19 of the companies that received loans or grants by the Obama administration have filed for bankruptcy or are in the process of doing so.

These include Evergreen Solar, SpectraWatt, Solyndra, Beacon Power, which got $43 million; AES’ subsidiary Eastern Energy, Nevada Geothermal, which received $98.5 million; SunPower, which got $1.5 billion from the government; First Solar, which received $1.46 billion from the federal government; Babcock & Brown, an Australian company which received $178 million from the administration; Ener1, a subsidiary EnerDel that received $118.5 million; Amonix, which received $5.9 million; The National Renewable Energy Lab; Fisker Automotive; Abound Solar, which received $400 million; Solar Trust of America; A123 Systems, which received $279 million; Willard & Kelsey Solar Group, which received $6 million; Johnson Controls, which received $299 million; and Schneider Electric, which received $86 million.

Has the Obama line “you don’t go back to doing something that didn’t work” made its debut in a Romney 2012 ad yet?

**Written by Doug Powers

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