The other Solyndra story: 60% tax rebates failed to drive demand

The stimulus had already boosted investment tax credits for solar panels from 10 to 30 percent. But the “private letter ruling” obtained by Solyndra from the IRS increased the tax credit for its products by an additional 30 percent.

That last 30 percent, however, only kicked in for solar panels installed on so-called “cool” roofs, painted white to reflect sunlight. And Solyndra was then the only vendor whose solar panels fit the bill.