lost $232 million, that the price of solar panels at that time had dropped 50%, and that the price of solar-grade silicone had plummeted. but solyndra wasn t using silicone, the chinese were, which made it almost impossible for them to compete. now, a woman who claims that she works for the firm that built the solyndra plant called in to the mark levin show. levin says she was vetted, she s legitimate, and here s what she said. play it. while we were out there, while we were building it because it is a half a billion dollar plant everyone already knew that china had developed a more inexpensive way to manufacture these solar panels. everyone knew that the plant wouldn t work, but they still did it, they still built it, and, um, basically, they stole that money. obama flew out and did an appearance out there and, actually, they re filing bankruptcy next week. reporter: a man who was just laid off by solyndra sold the san jose mercury news that solyndra was tossing ou
workers and then promptly saw its offices raided by the fbi. a senate energy confirmation hearing now dominating the day as the white house scrambles to defend its decision to hand out this hefty loan. trace gallagher with the breaking details now from our breaking news desk. trace? reporter: and remember, megyn, the white house still maintains this was a worthwhile investment in a company that was very promising, but yet many experts say there was nothing about this company that was at all promising, and they re pointing to the facts in 2008 before this loan was issued, that in 2008 solyndra reportedly lost $232 million, that the price of solar panels at that time had dropped 50%, and that the price of solar-grade silicone had plummeted. but solyndra wasn t using silicone, the chinese were, which made it almost impossible for them to compete. now, a woman who claims that she works for the firm that built the solyndra plant called in to the mark levin show. levin says she w