Even if the DOE liked the South Texas Project expansion plan, there was no way DOE was going to back a project with partners embroiled in a lawsuit.

FORBES: NRG Settles Nuke Lawsuit, Back In Hunt For Loan Guarantee

Would this project have any privet investors without the DOE money?

FORBES: Mega U.S. Solar Project Threatened by Unlikely Foe

After unsuccessfully shopping the project to 150 venture capital, debt and equity investors, the DOE may be Mr. Taylor's only way for retaining control over the landfill technology that he spent more than 15 years developing.

WSJ: Proposal Aims to Gut DOE Loan Program

Cost Questions: We all assume if there were no DOE money and BLM land available there would not be a project.

FORBES: Mega U.S. Solar Project Threatened by Unlikely Foe

The DOE Loan Guarantee Program Office has provided a draft term sheet for the California Valley Solar Ranch project, which is a significant milestone in the process leading to a conditional loan guarantee commitment.

ENGADGET: NRG and SunPower partner on 250-megawatt solar plant, plan to power 100,000 California homes

The project is currently seeking a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program Office, which supports accelerated commercial use of innovative energy technologies to help sustain economic growth, yield environmental benefits, and produce a more stable and secure energy supply.

ENGADGET: NRG and SunPower partner on 250-megawatt solar plant, plan to power 100,000 California homes