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> Let a thousand Solyndras bloom! lots of alt energy companies? you bet. risky? of course. will some fail? always. do people make mistakes? yes. would you pref

> Let a thousand Solyndras bloom! lots of alt energy companies? you bet. risky? of course. will some fail? always. do people make mistakes? yes. would you prefer instead that a thousand new Wall Street firms bloom? a thousand new oil companies? And Solyndra's cost to taxpayers, and impact on debt, is a tiny tiny drop in the bucket compare to what's been spent on Iraq and Afghanistan, or the Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans. put things in perspective, sorting by amounts, at the very least. I think we do agree on the idea that we should make it easier, or more meritocratic, to invest. And less bureaucracy. No arguments there. And there's a bill going through Congress now, I believe, and which Obama supports, to help do just that.

Androsynth 15y ago
I would rather the govt fund the research being done by the phds to develop the technology, then let them start their own companies. The US (especially the valley) has no shortage of funding for startups.
- mkramlich 15y ago
  agreed. well, somewhat. funding for software-centric startups is fairly easy right now. large capital/infrastructure-requiring startups is harder, and for mom-and-pop businesses it can be harder (though crowdfunding is shifting that, it appears.) making it easier for highly-skilled, rule-following foreigners (cough-Mexico-cough) to immigrate in and start at or work at US based startups, would be an easy win. And fixing the patent system. And defending the Internet from attack by big corporate interests. All would move the needle more than just making a little more money available for yet another shallow frothy "me too" web startup.
DaniFong 15y ago
The biggest problems the government should be solving with energy are fixing the messed up regulation of the electric grid, and reducing subsidies for energy/oil. Currently, utilities have zero incentive to take any risks, and zero incentive to save money. They only act under duress -- essentially, when the PUCs force them to do something.

Androsynth 15y ago

I would rather the govt fund the research being done by the phds to develop the technology, then let them start their own companies. The US (especially the valley) has no shortage of funding for startups.

mkramlich 15y ago
agreed. well, somewhat. funding for software-centric startups is fairly easy right now. large capital/infrastructure-requiring startups is harder, and for mom-and-pop businesses it can be harder (though crowdfunding is shifting that, it appears.) making it easier for highly-skilled, rule-following foreigners (cough-Mexico-cough) to immigrate in and start at or work at US based startups, would be an easy win. And fixing the patent system. And defending the Internet from attack by big corporate interests. All would move the needle more than just making a little more money available for yet another shallow frothy "me too" web startup.

DaniFong 15y ago

The biggest problems the government should be solving with energy are fixing the messed up regulation of the electric grid, and reducing subsidies for energy/oil. Currently, utilities have zero incentive to take any risks, and zero incentive to save money. They only act under duress -- essentially, when the PUCs force them to do something.