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The Louisiana senator and other Republicans have pounced on the bankruptcy of Fremont, Calif.-based Solyndra Inc., saying the White House rushed to approve a loan guarantee to the politically connected company without adequate oversight But Vitter was not always so critical of the loan program. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show he wrote to the Energy Department at least seven times since 2009 seeking money for projects that would benefit his home state.
One of the projects backed by Vitter, a company that makes activated carbon to reduce pollution at coal-fired power plants, has received preliminary approval for a $245 million loan guarantee. The project has not yet received any money.
In April 2009, Vitter urged Energy Secretary Steven Chu to approve a loan for Red River Environmental Products, saying the Coushatta, La., company could help meet a growing demand for products that help power plants comply with stricter federal regulation of mercury emissions. "I understand the importance of accessing the domestic energy resources we have, like coal, in an environmentally conscious manner," Vitter wrote.
Vitter has also backed projects for nuclear power, renewable diesel fuel and a company that makes fuel-efficient cars.
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http://hosted2-1.ap.org/MOSTP/6c4f1c9b30804a70bc4ae998df74d877/Article_2011-09-19-Solar%20Manufacturer-Vitter/id-7a14676b7c5a4c8499962e2f5c11f7b5
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