Chinese firm adds Obama to lawsuit over Oregon wind farm
WASHINGTON (AP) - A company owned by Chinese citizens has added President Barack Obama as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging the U.S. government exceeded its authority in blocking the firm's planned wind farm projects in Oregon near a Navy base.
In an amended complaint filed late Monday, Ralls Corp. said Obama "acted in an unlawful and unauthorized manner" in citing national security grounds to order it to halt construction of four wind farm projects near the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Ore. The U.S. military has acknowledged using the base to test unmanned drones and electronic warfare aircraft.
In its complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, Ralls said Obama provided no evidence of security risks in his use of a national defense law ordering the firm to halt its projects and divest the four wind farms. Last month, the firm sued Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and a multi-agency national security panel, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, in a lawsuit alleging that the U.S. government had exceeded its legal authority in ordering a halt to the wind farm projects.
"The President acted in an unlawful and unauthorized manner," Ralls' lawyers said in its new 39-page complaint. The firm contends Obama took action against Ralls without detailing any national security threat and without giving the firm an opportunity to respond to any evidence of a threat.
A Treasury official said Tuesday that the government had confidence in its authority and would counter Ralls' complaint. "We believe the lawsuit has no merit, and we intend to defend the case vigorously," said Treasury spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth Earnest.
Obama's move last week to block Ralls' wind farm projects and order their divestment followed CFIUS' determination that there was no way to address national security risks posed by Ralls' purchase of the Oregon sites. It was the first time in 22 years that a U.S. president blocked such a foreign business deal. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush scuttled the sale of Mamco Manufacturing to a Chinese agency.
In an amended complaint filed late Monday, Ralls Corp. said Obama "acted in an unlawful and unauthorized manner" in citing national security grounds to order it to halt construction of four wind farm projects near the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Ore. The U.S. military has acknowledged using the base to test unmanned drones and electronic warfare aircraft.
In its complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, Ralls said Obama provided no evidence of security risks in his use of a national defense law ordering the firm to halt its projects and divest the four wind farms. Last month, the firm sued Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and a multi-agency national security panel, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, in a lawsuit alleging that the U.S. government had exceeded its legal authority in ordering a halt to the wind farm projects.
"The President acted in an unlawful and unauthorized manner," Ralls' lawyers said in its new 39-page complaint. The firm contends Obama took action against Ralls without detailing any national security threat and without giving the firm an opportunity to respond to any evidence of a threat.
A Treasury official said Tuesday that the government had confidence in its authority and would counter Ralls' complaint. "We believe the lawsuit has no merit, and we intend to defend the case vigorously," said Treasury spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth Earnest.
Obama's move last week to block Ralls' wind farm projects and order their divestment followed CFIUS' determination that there was no way to address national security risks posed by Ralls' purchase of the Oregon sites. It was the first time in 22 years that a U.S. president blocked such a foreign business deal. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush scuttled the sale of Mamco Manufacturing to a Chinese agency.
I wouldnt plan on winning any sort of lawsuit if National Security is involved. DUH.
0bama is an idiot. There is no doubt that he will go down as the worst president in US history.
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If the Chinese wanted to spy on the Boardman military site all the would need to do is to buy a house in the area.
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This whole issue is much ado about nothing and 0bama is just shadow boxing.
FYI If you Google Ralls Corp. there is some very interesting info on them.Â
Could it be that the Chinese are investing in wind farms in the US, instead of in China because they know that they can get lots of taxpayer perks here? Something they can't get in their own country?
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And I am all for free enterprise but I honestly can't support selling off US land, or land in the US (whichever way you see it) to foreign persons or companies.
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Here is an article that shows how much land is owned by foreigners.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-18/foreign-investing-US-farm-timber-land/56466674/1
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No one got their panties in a twist over this.
 @RalphCramden Who is "no one"? Do you mean the government? They don't get their panties in a bunch over anything that nets them more tax dollars. I'm guessing that this has more to do with voters recognizing how much of their hard earned money is doled out to "green energy" and adding the name "China" to the list of tax payer supported companies, might not look to good right now for the current administration...
My opinion hasn't changed regarding ownership of property in the US by foreign companies or countries. I personally don't think anyone should be selling property inside the US, private or public, to foreign investors or owners. But the government never asks for my opinion, just my money.
@Owt_Raged @RalphCramden Ralphs did not get twisted it appears.
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The land they are building on is private land. They lease the space from the landowners. Some of it may be on public land but they can't buy it just like a US citizen can't buy it unless it is for sale.
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While they can buy land just like any other entity that is not how the wind industry works. The wind farms in Sherman county are all on private land and leased by the wind companies.
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Plus the arabs own a lot of land in the US and are buying more and more every day. Foreigners owning land in the US has been going on for centuries. Look at Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, and others.
@RalphCramden It is too bad you support other countries buying up our land .....especially bordering a US Military Facilty. That facility has to do with your safety just as much as our presidents safety. I am an American. I doubt it is legal for me to buy Chinese Soil. I dont want to but it is probably illegal.
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I never said I was for it. I was just stating facts since they seem to be absent in the discussion.
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This has nothing to do with our safety. It's just a political move by 0bama to make him look tough to help him get reelected.
 @RalphCramden  @Owt_RagedÂ
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This issue isn't about buying land. It's the location they are buying.
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I don't think anyone would say that given an opportunity to spy in US technology (as well as buy some in the form of this farm) that the Chinese would not jump on it.
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This Chinese company is just ticked they aren't getting a chance to sell some good "bird watching" to the Chinese government.
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 @Owt_Raged Not only that, but China has hackers trying to hack into our systems anyway.. this kind of thing just gives them another door to come through. They have been building up militarily also and we are trillions of dept to them. Thus just becomes another foot in the door if they do!
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I don't think any country should be allowed to buy up US land either! But I suspect more is at hand with China then just buying a business here.Â
 @Owt_Raged I agree! They will just bring and train all their own people to work on the project! The US will never see a job out of this!Â
 @seaturtle  @Owt_Raged ~  I agree 100% with both of you..!   Whatever their reasons for wanting to buy it, I just don't think we should be selling off pieces of our country to foreign individuals or companies..!  Â
Maybe the Chinese could speak with Citizens United and try that angle, "we're people too." (sarcasm)
OK, everyone is crying for the government to do something. So they did something! Five weeks before a major election is no time to introduce controversial projects. Given how it's a project a foreign country is behind makes it even more less likely that it will happen.
I know why!!!! They want to spy on our Navy's technology! The Chinese need to back off!
So confused, why are CHINESE suing American people over AMERICAN SOIL!?!?!?! I DO NOT want Chinese buying American companies and setting up shop in our countries backyard.Â
But mitt said all you have to do is bribe the government officals and get anything you want...
Maybe they souldn't have listened to mitt...
There he goes again....impeding free market enterprise....oh...uh...wait.....nevermind.
So...when was it made law that if you wanted something someone else has, and the person who has that says "go away...you can't have this"...they have the right to sue you???? The Chinese government sure thinks much of themselves. Why do they want to buy it anyway??? As someone else on here said....go build it in your own country.
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@Bewitchin1 Well first the person who has it didn't say "go away" the person who has the "something someone else has" doesn't seem to have a problem with the parties in the deal. Also, the Chinese government isn't involved. Did you even read the article?
@JTesla The article said the government isn't involved so that settles it? Please...
Oh please!! go away with your wind farm. Build it in Beijing.....I hear the smoke is killing them over there.Â
Oh boo freaking hoo. Cry me the Yangtze, oh wait you stopped that up and displaced millions didn't you?
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The Chinese company can go fly a kite. The US has since Regan imposed restrictions on what the Chinese can buy when it relates to technology. Same thing goes for Iran, North Korea and others.
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They will not win this legal battle nor will the federal government detail security concerns regarding a naval base.
What... we aren't allowed to say who can or cannot buy up pieces of our country??? Â Â How did THAT happen..!?!?
@margay1 That happened when we became a free country. Chinese, or Irish, or German citizens can buy up most of the nation, this was only blocked because of "national security concerns"... a little over a month before the election mind you.