Outgoing Energy Department Secretary Steven Chu, who announced his resignation last week, took to his Facebook page Thursday to make light of an article from parody news site “The Onion” alleging that he woke up next to a solar panel after a night of partying in D.C. As Chu wrote in a post on his Facebook page:
“I just want everyone to know that my decision not to serve a second term as Energy Secretary has absolutely nothing to do with the allegations made in this week’s edition of the Onion. While I’m not going to confirm or deny the charges specifically, I will say that clean, renewable solar power is a growing source of U.S. jobs and is becoming more and more affordable, so it’s no surprise that lots of Americans are falling in love with solar.”
Chu is stepping down after serving four years as Energy Secretary for the Obama Administration’s first term, during which time he oversaw a rapid expansion of government investment in — and other financial and material support of — clean energy technologies around the country, including an infamous $535 million dollar loan guarantee (actually initially set in motion under President Bush, before Chu served) to California solar company Solyndra, which declared bankruptcy in 2011 citing low-priced Chinese competition.
(H/T: Jake Tapper)
