Steven Chu: “This legislation will put Americans back to work while laying the groundwork for a clean energy economy.”

The American taxpayer has every right to expect that there is a reasonable chance for repayment of the loans we give out.

Today's hearing is part of the same anti-clean energy, anti-progress agenda that Republicans have been pushing for the last 21 months.

Whether the investors are Republicans or Democrats did not enter into any decision as to whether we were going to fund the loan.

If I look at other countries and how they are borrowing from our playbook--we have a long history of funding our research and development through our national labs, through our universities, and even in some companies.