VA Drops Millions on Delayed Solar Power Projects

Looks like some massive failures in the Veterans Affairs Department as if there's not enough already.

Over the past few years, they have apparently mis handled some $400 million worth of solar panel projects.

These projects were awarded between 2010 and 2013.

Big problems here, and I bet it's all about some crony political connections as well as complete incompetent jealousy.

They could have used that money for the Vets.

Another crony money funnel created by government greed.

VA Drops Millions on Delayed Solar Power Projects

The Department of Veterans Affairs has spent more than $408 million to install solar panels on its medical facilities in recent years, despite many of the projects experiencing significant delays and some of the systems not becoming operational at all.

The VA has failed to effectively plan and manage these solar panel projects, resulting in significant delays and additional costs, according to a report released by the agency’s inspector general last week.

The watchdog conducted an audit of 11 of the 15 solar projects awarded between fiscal years 2010 and 2013 that were still in progress as of May last year. The investigation, which was completed in March, found that only two of the 11 solar panel projects were fully completed.

“This occurred because of planning errors, design changes, a lengthy interconnection process, and contractor delays,” the inspector general concluded. “As a result, VA did not increase renewable energy for those solar projects in the time frame planned and incurred additional costs through needed contract modifications.”

a reply to: xuenchen

I have to let my nephew know that this must be why it took him two years to get an appointment at the local VA hospital.(true story)
Once he finds out that it was all about the environment, he will understand completely.

Remember when we were being sold solar as the way forward and we all needed to change our energy consumption habits away from carbon fuelled?

Well fracking came along and there are £Billions to be made.

The VA was sold a pup, I would be looking for some compensation from the administration who caused this problem by switching their energy policy, without warning.

Politicians don't have the education nor the experience to build even a dog house, much less oversee the management of said projects. All a politician knows how to do is put out the bid, award it to a crony "entrepreneur", then sit back and throw more taxpayer money at the project as it falters, goes over-budget, and then fails.

But, in the interim, their cronies got hefty paychecks.

So, couple this solar panel waste in the Veterans Affairs Department with the $20,000,000 they spent on art for the VA (I wonder who the "artists" and gallery owners were that benefited there) and you have the typical bureaucratic bloated sorry excuse of government "management".

Disgusting. Donald Trump would be too ashamed if this happened under his watch. He will demand accountability when he becomes president.

Its 12c per kwh for electricity on average in the USA , an average house uses 908kw h per month,$400 million dollars will buy 10.000 homes power for 30 years I dont think they did much cost benefit analysis somehow

originally posted by: khnum
Its 12c per kwh for electricity on average in the USA , an average house uses 908kw h per month,$400 million dollars will buy 10.000 homes power for 30 years I dont think they did much cost benefit analysis somehow

They probably didn't, because it wasn't about saving money for the VA, it was about getting contracts to solar companies and developing the technology for eventual personal use. Did you ever wonder who was purchasing solar panels to keep the companies and business and develop the technology?

This is basically the non socialist way of the government directing research in an area. The executive branch uses it's purchasing power in various agencies to create large contracts for tech companies. We do the same thing to fund medical research, and another example of this being done successfully with energy policy is the Post Office making flex fuel vehicles mainstream.

This wouldn't have impacted care either because I would bet anything they were given a grant for this project specifically, not for funds for other areas.

I'm having difficulty finding out who the contractors were on these solar panel projects.

Solar Power Integrators keeps popping up, but I'm not sure about their connections yet.

a reply to: xuenchen

This is disgraceful, terrible management!

Here is a report by the VA.
www.va.gov...

And a letter from a congressman.
www.va.gov...

Best thing that could be done at this point: Have the contractors turn in the cash to prove they still have it.

a reply to: xuenchen

I'm guessing that, while as wasteful as this is, it was probably a mandate by Obama's EPA.