Rep. Stearns Praised Stimulus Investments In Green Tech Before He Panned Them

Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
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Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) was for investing in renewable energy before he was against it.

Stearns took shots at green energy at a Wednesday hearing on Solyndra and earlier this week at the Heritage Foundation, where he said the “whole idea that the president is going to create jobs from this green technology is suspect.”

“The president should realize that green energy isn’t going to be the solution,” Stearns said. “I’m convinced that there are more that are going to go bankrupt. I think the president is unwise to spend the government’s money on industries that are not viable.”

That apparently wasn’t how felt at a ribbon cutting ceremony for stimulus investments in advanced batteries in his district last year.

“I am honored to join in welcoming Saft’s Li-ion battery manufacturing facility to the Cecil Commerce Center, which underscores that this is a good place to do business. In addition, as a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, I recognize the contributions of these advanced rechargeable batteries in meeting our energy needs,” Stearns said then.

One of Saft’s batteries can boost the value of solar energy by time-shifting power generated during peak production times (during the day) to peak demand times (night).

Here’s Stearns panning solar energy at the hearing yesterday:

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