Why @BernieSanders is wrong about @elonmusk:

The LA Times article is misleading.

"New York State is spending $750 million to build a solar panel factory in Buffalo for SolarCity."

State and local governments have competed to attract business for years. /1 https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1291877623946149889

Tesla is not getting any special advantages that other companies don't get.

"It will not pay property taxes for a decade, which would otherwise total an estimated $260 million."

Not a subsidy. A tax break. If it wasn't offered, then no factory and zero property tax. /2

"The federal government provides grants or tax credits to cover 30% of solar installation cost. SolarCity received $497 million in grants from the Treasury Department."

These are benefits available generally to solar businesses.

Did Bernie oppose these programs? /3

"Nevada has agreed to provide Tesla with $1.3 billion in incentives to help build a massive battery factory near Reno."

Same as above. No incentives - no factory - no jobs, and no property taxes. /4

"collected more than $517 million from competing automakers by selling environmental credits."

Did Bernie vote against this system?

Tesla and Elon are playing on the playing field created by @BernieSanders and the rest of Congress. /5

"SpaceX has won more than $5.5 billion in government contracts from NASA and the U.S. Air Force."

And SpaceX has delivered on those contracts, providing reliable launch services at far lower cost than others. /6

--“Government support is a theme of all three of these companies, and without it none of them would be around,” said Mark Spiegel, a hedge fund manager who is shorting Tesla’s stock--

How does @BernieSanders feel about hedge funds who short stocks? /7

"To make room in its budget, Nevada reduced incentives for filming in the state and killed a tax break for insurance companies."

Is @BernieSanders upset about tax breaks shifting from insurers and filmmakers to a company that reduces CO2 emissions and other pollution? /8

"Texas local subsidies include a property tax break from the school district worth $3.1M. The development will still bring in about $5 million more over that period than the local school district otherwise would have collected. /9

--“That’s $5 million more than we have ever seen from that property,” said Dr. Lisa Garcia, superintendent of the Point Isabel Independent School District.--

Would @BernieSanders rather that the land go unused and the district not get the $5M? /10

"Tesla buyers also get a $7,500 federal income tax credit. Tesla buyers have qualified for an estimated $284 million in federal tax incentives."

How did Bernie vote on the EV tax credit legislation? /11

"In the big picture, the government supports electric cars and solar panels in the hope of promoting widespread adoption and, ultimately, slashing carbon emissions."

Does @BernieSanders disagree with this big picture?

/12

Seriously @BernieSanders - Any complaints you have about @elonmusk involve him playing fairly in the system you created.

Stop misleading the public. You should be thanking Elon and Tesla for making huge progress on EVs, batteries and solar.