House Republicans on Tuesday threatened to issue subpoenas to key Biden administration officials within the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of an ongoing investigation into the Biden administration's activities.
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote the following: letter On Tuesday, he criticized Jigar Shah, head of the Department of Energy's Loan Planning Office (LPO), for his “inadequate” cooperation with the committee's previous requests for information, saying that the Department of Energy must provide adequate guidance by February 6. He threatened to take “compulsory proceedings” if the government did not issue a suitable document. He is known for his continued relationship with the green energy industry association he founded before joining the Biden DOE as chief green energy loan officer, and for his firm's involvement in companies that allegedly committed securities fraud and exploited elderly customers. The company has come under intense scrutiny from Republicans in Congress for promising or providing loans. .
“Recent news coverage, your testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the rapid expansion of LPO lending authority to more than $400 billion, show how this program plans to use taxpayer dollars. “There are legitimate questions,” the letter said. Republican Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, H. Morgan Griffiths of Virginia, and Jeff Duncan of South Carolina. “As the LPO continues to publicly emphasize its commitment to transparency, full cooperation would have provided this program office with an opportunity to address these issues. failed to cooperate in a meaningful way with the Commission's efforts to exercise its oversight responsibilities under the Act.” (Related: House Republicans demand answers from key Energy Department officials on subsidies for green companies after DCNF report)
Letter to DOE LPO Secretary Shah by nick pope On Scribd
The purpose of LPOs is to provide green energy companies with financing that the private sector does not provide. according to Go to the office homepage. The Biden administration has significantly strengthened the department that was behind the Solyndra scandal during the Obama administration, putting about $400 billion in taxpayer funds into its coffers to help foster innovation in green energy. according to To the Wall Street Journal.
Republican members of the House and Senate have previously written to the DOE requesting answers and information about the LPO's operations, but the letter says the DOE has not yet provided most of the requested documents. has been done.
After LPO conducted a due diligence process on Li-Cycle, a lithium-ion battery recycling company, LPO agreed in principle to provide the company with a $375 million loan in February 2023. However, the company is suspected of defrauding investors from June to October 2022. By 2023, the LPO has determined that Li-Cycle is worthy of receiving federal funding.
Li-Cycle is not the only troubled company that LPOs have offered loans to at the expense of large amounts of taxpayer money. LPO offers $3 billion package to solar company Sunnova, which allegedly exploited elderly customers on their deathbed by convincing them to sign decades-long five-figure rooftop solar contracts did. according to To the Washington Free Beacon.
Republicans are also seeking documents and information regarding Mr. Shah's continued relationship with the CleanTech Leaders Roundtable, a green energy trade group he founded and then resigned to take over the LPO's top job. . The industry group has seen its membership and influence soar during Mr. Shah's time in charge of LPO's lending portfolio. according to To the beacon.
The DOE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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