Oct 20, 2011
What Brewer won't say: Obama's pro-solar policies help Arizona companies create jobs
PHOENIX -- As she did throughout her 2010 campaign, Gov. Jan Brewer this week sent a press release touting job creation in Arizona without disclosing that many of those jobs are a result of President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The governor's release shared the positive news that Arizona has "produced more than 4,700 solar jobs over the past year" and gave examples of "three large-scale, renewable-energy utility projects currently being constructed in Arizona, with total investments exceeding $2.7 billion."
Here's what Brewer's release did NOT share: All three of her examples received loan guarantees from President Obama's Recovery Act under the section 1705 loan guarantee program. Some details:
- Abengoa Solar in Gila Bend received $1.446 billion in ARRA loan guarantees. Jobs created: About 1,500 to 1,700 during construction, and 85 to 100 jobs for operation.
- Agua Caliente in Yuma County received $967 million in ARRA loan guarantees. Jobs created: About 400 during construction.
- Mesquite Solar in Maricopa County received $337 million in ARRA loan guarantees. Jobs created: About 300 during construction.
"The president's focus on solar jobs is making a difference here in Arizona," said Andrei Cherny, Arizona Democratic Party chairman. "Yet our governor refuses to acknowledge this, and our GOP congressmen continue to attack the president's job-creation efforts. Sensible leadership, not partisan gamesmanship, is what our state needs to truly become a solar leader and an economic force."
