Abound Solar looking to rebound following Longmont layoffs, production freeze

Two years ago, President Barack Obama hailed Loveland-based Abound Solar Inc. for its state-of-the-art technology and its potential to create thousands of jobs.

Abound received a $400 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy, drew down $70 million and, by the end of last year, ramped up production at its 400-employee Longmont-area plant.

This year, however, the attention directed toward Abound has spun swiftly from praise to skepticism.

At the end of February, Abound laid off 280 workers -- about 90 were temporary employees -- at its Longmont plant and halted production ...

Guess all of Obozo's "investments" with his crony "capitalist" campaign bundlers with freshly printed and borrowed taxpayer dollars isn't helping to keep energy prices down, hey? Gee, I wonder why? Most likely because the DemoRats can't repeal the laws of physics, laws of supply and demand, or the laws of competition. But, hey now, that hasn't stopped them from pouring billions of our hard-earned taxpayer dollars down the rat holes of solar, wind, pond scum, rainbow, Unicorn, and Skittles power, now has it? That hasn't really helped energy prices much yet for some reason, has it? But, you know, no problemo, it'll all be beautiful in 20 years or so with alternative energy, particularly since that will give the "Progressives" plenty of time to drive energy prices up by a factor of five or ten in order to make Rainbow and Unicorn power "competitive".

And then we have the EPA that just fixed it so no new coal-fired plant will ever be built again in the U.S.. Remember when Obozo said he'd bankrupt the coal industry? Well, as it turns out, it's only one of two campaign promises he kept. What's that other promise? Oh, yeah, that energy prices would necessarily have to skyrocket under his policies. Well, guess what, premium gas in Longmont just exceeded $4.00 a gallon last week. By the way, how on earth are those millions (well, hundreds actually) Volts and Leafs going to operate without coal-fired charging plants? Rainbow power, maybe? Or Unicorn power? You pick. Not that it matters too much if Obozo is re-elected, since gas will be $10.00 a gallon like in Europe just as energy secretary Chu has stated was his goal for energy policy.

And Obama prevents oil imports from our Canadian next door neighbor and ally by preventing the XL pipeline from being built. Well, at least the northern leg that crosses the border. He can't stop the southern leg, so he goes down to Oklahoma for a photo-op to show how much he supports it!

Yesterday, Obama announced a five year moratorium on Atlantic offshore drilling, new Gulf drilling has already been effectively halted due to refusal to issue permits, fracing is under attack even though not a single problem has ever been proven, new coal mine permits in West Virgina have essentially been halted, and so on.

You don't suppose there's a pattern here do you? Why, yes, I do believe there is a pattern! But why you may ask? Why would anyone in their right mind try to destroy the energy supply of our once great country? Why would our dear leader want us all to go back to freezing our tushes off in the dark and unable to travel beyond a 10 mile radius of our caves? That's actually a very good question! I really wish I had the answer. I have some theories, but best not to elucidate them here as I might be thought to be a conspiracy theorist. At any rate, if dear leader gets re-elected, I'm sure we'll find out out, since as he just pointed out to the Russians, he won't have to face the voters ever again, and thus he'll have the "space" to do what he really wants to do but can't right now because of those pesky voters.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.