Four Democratic senators aim to halt stimulus wind project

Washington Post ^ | March 4, 2010 | Dan Eggen

[neverdem]

A group of Democratic senators called Wednesday for the government to halt a federal stimulus program aimed at building wind farms and other clean-energy projects, arguing that too much of the money spent so far has gone to create jobs overseas.

The Obama administration and wind-energy advocates strongly disputed the criticism by Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) and three other Democrats, saying that most of the jobs under the Energy Department program have been created in the United States, despite the dominance of foreign manufacturers in the green-technology sector.

The dispute marks a rare public split among Democrats over the $862 billion stimulus package, which the Obama administration and party leaders have defended as crucial to saving jobs and easing the recession's impact. Republicans have spent the past year attacking the package as a wasteful boondoggle.

Joined by Sens. Robert P. Casey Jr. (Pa.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Jon Tester (Mont.), Schumer said at a news conference that the Obama administration has ignored concerns about foreign involvement in the clean-energy program and should halt funding until Congress can pass legislation to deal with the problem.

Schumer and the other lawmakers focused particular criticism at Cielo Wind Power of Austin, which has said it may apply for up to $450 million in stimulus funding for a massive wind farm that would be powered by turbines built in China.

"It is a no-brainer that stimulus funds should only go to projects that create jobs in the United States rather than overseas," Schumer said. "These wind projects have a lot of merit, but the manufacturing should be happening here, not in China."

A spokesman for the Texas project called the senators' assumptions incorrect, saying that at least 70 percent of each turbine will be made in the United States with American steel...

[javachip]

"It is a no-brainer that stimulus funds should only go to projects that create jobs in the United States rather than overseas," Schumer said.

'No-brainer' is an fitting description for Schumer and his fellow dimowits.

[SunkenCiv]

• The Bum Rap on Biofuels
• Campaign to vilify ethanol revealed

[Salvation]

God bless these blue dog dimocrats.

Life is precious and to be treasured!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[CPT Clay]

I always thought he was the embodiment of an empty suit.