(Source: Bloomberg)
Republican Senators want to know why the Energy Department continues to fund failing companies
A123 Systems is the provider for the battery packs used in several electric and hybrid vehicles on the U.S. market today, including the Fisker Karma. A123 produces lithium-ion batteries and was the recipient of multiple federal grants from the U.S. government.
A123 Systems filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 16 after a deal with a Chinese auto parts company that would have rescued it collapsed.
The same day the company filed for bankruptcy protection, it received a payment of $946,830 from the U.S. government as a part of its $249 million Department of Energy grant for developing clean energy technology.
The grant has an outstanding balance of $115.8 million, and A123 is still eligible for the remainder of its grant funds if it decides to update or expand its manufacturing capacity.
Republican Senators John Thune and Chuck Grassley have been vocal in opposing any federal grant money being giving to A123 and have pressed the Department of Energy to explain why grant money has been continually given to the battery maker even as it has faltered and filed for bankruptcy protection.
A spokesman for the Energy Department, Bill Gibbons, said, "The Energy Department takes its responsibility to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money very seriously."
Source: Reuters
"Folks that want porn can buy an Android phone." -- Steve Jobs
|
Most Popular ArticlesHigh School Student Creates Storage Device that Can Charge in 20 Seconds
May 20, 2013, 6:51 AM
Google Announces "Pure" Galaxy Nexus S4 for $649, Android Updates
May 15, 2013, 1:42 PM
Seawater Cooling Saves Data Center Big Bucks, Energy, Despite Jellyfish Issues
May 17, 2013, 3:23 PM
U.S. Federal Traffic Board Wants to Make Drunk Driving Threshold Far Harsher
May 15, 2013, 11:32 AM
Newegg Legal Chief: "We don't Feed the Trolls"; Defeats Bell Lab Shell Comp.
May 17, 2013, 10:11 AM
|
