Kind of ironic

chickenslayer · #1 01/01/12, 04:16 PM

A solar energy company can't pay it's electric bill.

"Idaho Power plans to cut off electricity on Tuesday to plant in Pocatello, Idaho, that makes material for solar energy, because the factory owes $1.9 million in unpaid utility bills."

http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/archives/48931

copperkid3 · #2 01/01/12, 05:05 PM

Pretty sure that "O" has a special grant in store that will take care of it in spades......
with a lot left over to pad someone's pockets!!!

Not like it's coming out of YOUR taxes or anything.....

HeelSpur · #3 01/02/12, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperkid3

Pretty sure that "O" has a special grant in store that will take care of it in spades......
with a lot left over to pad someone's pockets!!!

Thats why they can't pay their bills, pocket padding

nadja · #4 01/02/12, 07:39 AM

O Great One has already given them money most likely and that is why they are broke. LOL

Ozarks Tom · #5 01/02/12, 04:32 PM

Nothing like starting a business selling to a market that barely exists. With the exception of off-grid homes, and ultra-green municipalities who is buying solar panels in enough volume to keep that industry alive?

An industry that needs government subsidies, loans, and grants to exist, shouldn't.

nadja · #6 01/02/12, 04:43 PM

I live in a small town, and not to defend O Great one, but with a pop. of around 10,000 there are two solar stores alone and they stay busy enough to expand. Of course there are a lot of people like me that live off the grid. I am not saying that it would be a good business to get into, but with all the china junk really hitting the market lately, it is driving the really good solar stuff out of the market.

reluctantpatriot · #7 01/08/12, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozarks Tom

Nothing like starting a business selling to a market that barely exists. With the exception of off-grid homes, and ultra-green municipalities who is buying solar panels in enough volume to keep that industry alive?

An industry that needs government subsidies, loans, and grants to exist, shouldn't.

As long as you include agricultural and petroleum industry subsidies then it seems fair. Remove all subsidies for all industries.

time · #8 01/08/12, 05:43 PM

Well, the assumptions in this thread have me rolling on the floor.

Hoku does not make solor panels. They process poly-silicon. For use in making solar panels. Or plan to. The biggest customer order is from china. It is a largely china funded company from chinese companies. (just in case the name didn't give it away)

The plant has been being built for a few years, many delays due to funding. Private funding, in this economy has been difficult. It is not fully functional.

I know people that work there, or did, many are now on layoff.

The problem with the company is it never was fully funded. They have been building as they obtain funding. Much of that funding comes from pre-orders of product.

I have seen no evidence that it is government funded or subsidized. I'd like to see some. I don't have a problem with tax incentives.

I have my doubts the company will survive. Sticking OWE with the blame is very funny.

Ozarks Tom · #9 01/09/12, 08:55 PM

Time, nobody said they made solar panels. I said they are selling to an industry that can't support itself.

Is it a surprise they can't get private funding? If there was a profit to be made they could.

It's not the government's place to subsidize anything, thereby picking winners and losers. If an industry can't stand on it's own, let it die.

beowoulf90 · #10 01/10/12, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reluctantpatriot

As long as you include agricultural and petroleum industry subsidies then it seems fair. Remove all subsidies for all industries.

Since I happen to agree with Ozarks Tom, I have no problem with getting Government out of the AG and Oil business.

For example when we ran a Convenience store. We would buy gas for xx number of dollars per gallon and the same place we were buying it from would sell to the station down the street for less. That station could and would sell for less then we paid per gallon. So you would think if we rented a tanker truck and bought say 500 gallons from them we could sell it for less at our store. There is only one problem with that! It's illegal! The government only allows you to buy from certain people. It made no difference if that person/company would sell to one store for $1 /gal and sell it to you for $2 /gal.. There is nothing you can do about it... Most Convenience Stores and gas stations only make between 2 and 5 cents per gallon. Most of their profits are made when you buy other items..

Anyway I will agree the Government should get out of the AG and Oil business and stop funding Private Industry.. If they can't make it without these subsidies, then they don't need to be in business.