WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The White House Friday ordered an independent review of an Energy Department program after a renewable energy loan turned sour, administration officials said.
The program guaranteed a $535 million loan to Solyndra LLC, a solar panel manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy last month.
Former Assistant Treasury Secretary Herb Allison has been tapped to conduct the review. Support of Allison by both Democrats and Republicans could lend credibility to the probe, The Wall Street Journal reported.
About $36 billion in finalized and pending loans in the department's portfolio will be investigated, including a review of how existing loans are monitored.
"While we continue to take steps to make sure the United States remains competitive in the 21st century energy economy, we must also ensure that we are strong stewards of taxpayer dollars," White House Chief of Staff William Daley said in a statement.
Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are considering a subpoena for e-mails documenting communications between the White House, other federal agencies, Solyndra and its lobbyists. Democrats say the e-mails show no wrongdoing on the administration's part.
