Though the Energy Department and Solyndra deny that political considerations influenced the company’s favorable treatment, the company is just one among many firms owned, operated, or financed by a major Obama donor that have enjoyed such treatment. In fact, “nearly 200 of his biggest donors have landed plum government jobs and advisory posts, won federal contracts worth millions of dollars for their business interests or attended numerous elite White House meetings and social events,” Politico noted in March, citing iWatch’s investigation.
Another one of those donors owns a venture capital firm with four renewable energy companies in its portfolio that have also received more than $500 million in loans, grants, or stimulus funds. One hopes they fare better than Solyndra.