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'You're not an American Company'

The chairman of First Solar, a company that received approximately $3.1 billion in federal loan guarantees under President Obama's green energy initiative, said Wednesday that the majority of the jobs created by the company have been overseas.

By Washington Free Beacon Staff··
'You're not an American Company'

The chairman of First Solar, a company that received approximately $3.1 billion in federal loan guarantees under President Obama's green energy initiative, said Wednesday that the majority of the jobs created by the company have been overseas.

Speaking at a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, First Solar chairman Michael Ahearn admitted that most of the company's full-time jobs are held overseas.

"In sheer numbers, most of our full-time employees are outside the U.S," Ahearns said.

"It sounds like you're not an American company," said committee chairman Darrell Issa (R., Calif.). "You simply have a small presence in Ohio and Arizona."

Issa stated figures showing First Solar employed 560 workers in Germany, 1680 in Malaysia, and 280 in Ohio.