By Kevin McCauley
Solyndra hired Glover Park Group, the well-connected Democratic PR firm, to introduce its management to members of the House Energy and Commerce committee six weeks before the Aug. 31 announcement that the solar panel company was shutting down and throwing 1,100 people out of work.
Catharine Ransom, former climate and environment advisor to Sen. Max Baucus and senior policy advisor to ex-Senator Bob Graham; Gregg Rothschild, ex-legislative director for Sen. John Kerry and deputy chief of staff for the energy and commerce committee, and Alix Mistri, special assistant to former President Bush II and chief of staff to Rep. Bill Shuster, are registered as Solyndra lobbyists.
The committee on Sept. 22 asked the Dept. of Energy for additional documentation regarding the solar panel company’s $535M loan guarantee.
McBee Strategic Consulting, which was hired by Solyndra on Jan. 30 2009 to work on the federal loan agreement, terminated ties with the Fremont, Cal.-based company on Jan. 31.
McAllister & Quinn, which filed June 15 to work for Energy Dept. appropriations, ended its relationship with Solyndra on Sept. 1.
Joel Johnson, managing director of Glover Park, has not been reached about whether the firm still represents the interests of Solyndra. |