Old news. The West Texas wind project has been controversial since it was announced last November.
Should it be canceled? Maybe.
But it also resulted in a long-term agreement between US Renewable Energy Group and A Power Energy Generation Systems (the China company) to:
Quote:
... construct "a new production and assembly plant in the United States that will supply highly advanced wind energy turbines to renewable energy projects throughout North and South America.... produce 1,100 megawatts of wind energy turbines annually, enough to power 330,000 homes. Upon completion, the facility is expected to employ approximately 1,000 American workers and will create additional jobs during the construction process.
http://www.us-reg.com/news/
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It is true that the turbines for the West Texas project will come from China and not this yet-to-be-built facility.
But would this long-term agreement have come about w/o the initial stimulus funding? I dont know? Do you?
Right now, we cant compete with Chinese on wind turbine technology. Will this new facility help make the US more competitive or at least become the manufacturing source for turbines on other US wind projects in the future? I would hope so but I dont know? Do you?
Welcome to the world of multi-national companies.
If your agenda is to find questionable projects among the thousands awarded.....you win!
If you are suggesting the stimulus program has been a failure in its first year (with less than half the funds spent) and hasnt created jobs and contributed to slowing/ending the recession.....many economists will disagree.
IMt certainly hasnt been perfect, but its been good for the economy.
added:
Once again, a single article/opinion column or news report will often not tell the whole story, by design, laziness or incompetence. If one stops inquiring after reading just one article/opinion column...is it by design because it fits one's agenda or laziness and a preference for looking at issues as black or white and never considering shades of gray?