Jonathan Silver, the embattled head of the Department of Energy's controversial loan guarantee program at the heart of the emerging Solyndra scandal, is stepping down.

In announcing his resignation this afternoon, Energy Secretary Steven Chu framed Silver's departure as a planned transition and not as the result of House Republicans who have been clamoring for his head in recent weeks.

SPECIAL REPORT

Solyndra, a solar manufacturer that was given a $535 million loan guarantee and touted by the White House as a model for the clean energy economy, has filed for bankruptcy. E&E examines how it got there and what it means. Click here to read the report.

"In early July, shortly after the fiscal year 2011 budget was completed by Congress and it became clear that no significant new funds were included for the loan program, Jonathan Silver informed me that he intended to return to the private sector shortly after September 30," which was the statutory deadline for the loan program that Silver oversaw, Chu said.

Silver is leaving to become a distinguished visiting fellow at the centrist think tank Third Way.

It was Silver who told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee last month that the now-bankrupt Solyndra solar panel company seemed well-positioned in 2009 when DOE approved it for a $535 million loan guarantee. Silver also said DOE had commissioned a comprehensive review of Solyndra's technology, and the solar market, before approving the loan.

While Republican investigators, including Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), have blasted Silver for his failure to manage a program and for a lack of leadership, Chu praised Silver for his work today.

"Under his leadership, the loan program has demonstrated considerable success, with a broad portfolio of investments that will help American companies compete in the global clean energy market," Chu said. "Because of my absolute confidence in Jonathan and the outstanding work he has done, I would welcome his continued service at the Department, but I completely understand the decision he has made."

Calls for Silver's resignation by House Republicans came just days after his Capitol Hill testimony last month.

At that hearing, Silver riled Republicans by trying to put at least part of the blame for Solyndra on the George W. Bush administration.

"Much of the extensive due diligence on the transaction was conducted between 2006 and the end of 2008," Silver said.

"By late 2008, Solyndra was considered by those involved in the DOE loan programs to be the project most advanced in the due diligence process. ... In fact, by the time the Obama administration took office in late January 2009, the loan programs' staff had already established a goal of, and timeline for, issuing the company a conditional loan guarantee commitment in March 2009."