New house solar energy panel buy in Honolulu, Fremont, Irving

First Solar Outspent BP in California While Building Support

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(Updates with shares in eighth paragraph.)

Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) -- First Solar Inc., the maker of thin- film solar panels that cut jobs and lowered its profit forecast this month, has won government aid while cultivating political relationships from California to the White House.

First Solar is eliminating 60 jobs at a California research center after receiving $3.43 million in state sales-tax credits. The federal government provided $3 billion in loan guarantees to the Tempe, Arizona-based company, the most of any recipient

Government aid to renewable-energy companies and their lobbying efforts have been under scrutiny by lawmakers since the collapse of Solyndra LLC, a California maker of solar panels that filed for bankruptcy in September after winning $535 million in U.S. loan guarantees.

First Solar spent $2.2 million on lobbying in Washington since 2007 and representatives met Obama administration officials before winning the aid, government records show. In California, the company gave $150,000 to campaigns last year, more than triple the $38,750 donated by BP Plc’s North America unit, according to the secretary of state’s office.

Source: BusinessWeek

house solar energy panel - News

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