‘Diversity and Inclusion Specialist’ Job with Feds Pays $118K a Year

The Department of Energy (DOE) will pay a “Diversity and Inclusion Specialist” up to $118,000 a year, according to a new job opening with the federal government.

The full-time position, which opened up on Monday, will pay a minimum of $90,000 a year to a person who will come up with “effective inclusive practices and policies” for the agency.

“The Diversity and Inclusion Specialist position is located in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),” the job posting stated. “The office is responsible for providing leadership, direction, coordination, evaluation and support for managing a diverse workforce and establishing effective inclusive practices and policies at DOE.”

To apply, one must be a diversity and inclusion “expert.” The person hired will provide DOE managers with guidance.

“The Diversity and Inclusion Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and advisor to the Department of Energy (DOE) leadership on diversity management and inclusive practices, and assists with leading the integration of diversity and inclusion principles of into DOE’s workplace culture,” the posting said. “Provides advice and guidance to supervisors and managers on best practices associated with leading employees from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and aligns inclusion initiatives with the organizational mission, goals, strategies and metrics, in accordance with Executive Order 13583, and guidance provided by the Office of Personnel Management.”

The position also requires developing a “DOE-wide action plan to accomplish diversity and inclusion outcomes” every year. The plans were mandated by the executive order signed by President Barack Obama in August 2011.

The position does not require a college degree and pays between $90,823.00 and $118,069.00 a year.

Via: WFB

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Cronyism Lawsuit Against Energy Department’s $25 Billion Green Energy Program Advances

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that a lawsuit filed by a government watchdog group against the Department of Energy over “political favoritism” within a multi-billion dollar federal green energy loan program can advance.

Cause of Action, a nonpartisan watchdog group, submitted the lawsuit against the DOE arguing the agency awarded loans to companies based on political connections and donations while denying money to similar companies who do not have the same political clout.

The DOE program in question, the $25 billion Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program, was created in 2008 with the intent of supporting the development of energy-efficient cars. The group submitted the lawsuit on behalf of the now dissolved XP Vehicles and Limnia—a former California vehicle company.

Within the complaint, which was initially filed on Nov. 14, 2012, in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, XP alleges “corruption and negligence” pervaded the Department of Energy’s decision to award loan guarantees to Nissan, Ford, Tesla Motors, and Fisker Automotive for the development of electric vehicle technology.

“When politicians and agencies allow companies to purchase government access, the basic foundation of our free market economy is compromised,” Dan Epstein, president of Cause of Action, told the Washington Free Beacon.

Epstein elaborated on this point in a recent op-ed published in The Hill.

Epstein notes Tesla Motors—one of the companies awarded money from the Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program—had plenty of connections and access to give them an advantage over a company such as XP Vehicles.

Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, was a maxed out donor to President Obama. Steven Westly, a board member of Tesla, was appointed to a Department of Energy advisory board. Additionally, an investor and adviser of Tesla, Steven Spinner, served as a program analyst at the Department of Energy from 2009 to 2010. Spinner helped monitor the issuance of the $25 billion coming from the program.

Another beneficiary of the program, Fisker Automotive, also had high-dollar donors to President Obama.

Fisker was backed by a San Francisco-based venture capital firm whose senior advisers donatedmillions to Democrats during the 2008 election cycle, including Obama. John Doerr, a partner of the group, later secured a seat on the President’s Council of Jobs and Competitiveness and helped Fisker land $192 million in government energy loans. The company has since gone bankrupt.

XP Vehicles and Limnia, on the other hand, were rejected twice by the Department of Energy for what Epstein says are “bogus reasons” despite being similar to other companies who received federal money to aid the manufacturing of energy-efficient cars.

“For starters, the department made claims that were laughably false. To take one example: It rejected XPV’s application because its vehicle was powered by hydrogen. It was an electric SUV. It also raised objections that it didn’t raise with other companies whose applications were approved,” Epstein wrote. “For instance: The bureaucracy criticized the proposed all-electric vehicle for not using a specific type of gasoline. Yet Tesla and Fisker received the loans despite producing similar all-electric cars.”

As a result, XP Vehicles could not compete with the other heavily subsidized companies and has since gone out of business.

Epstein called the recent ruling by a federal district court that allows his lawsuit to advance “groundbreaking” and a victory for individuals and businesses everywhere.

“For the first time, a federal district court has confirmed there is a legal remedy when cronyism influences federal administrative discretionary spending,” Epstein told the Free Beacon. “This groundbreaking opinion establishes that the government owes everyone—not just presidential campaign donors—a fair shake when awarding government funds.”

“Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s common-sense judgment that government decisions tainted by cronyism and political favoritism are ‘arbitrary and capricious’ is a victory for individuals and businesses everywhere.”

Via: WFB

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Repeating History: Obama Administration Ignored Warning Signs On Another Green Energy Company

The Department Of Energy Failed To Disclose Concerns That ECOtality, A Green Tech Company Awarded $135 Federal Funding, Was Headed Toward Bankruptcy. “The Department of Energy failed to disclose concerns about a green-technology company that won $135 million in federal funding but ended up filing for bankruptcy in September, according to a watchdog report released this week.” (Josh Hicks, “Energy Dept. Failed To Report Concerns As Green-Tech Firm Was Heading For Bankruptcy,” Washington Post , 11/7/13)

ECOtality Is Still Due To Receive $26 Million In Funding. “DOE Inspector General Gregory Friedman noted that the firm, San Francisco-based Ecotality, is still due to receive $26 million from the agency for testing electric vehicles.” “The the agency has suspended firm’s Recovery Act money, but not a $26 million award for vehicle testing. The Energy Department is not required to pay for the latter unless the work is done.” (Josh Hicks, “Energy Dept. Failed To Report Concerns As Green-Tech Firm Was Heading For Bankruptcy,”Washington Post , 11/7/13)

The Administration Knew As Early May That ECOtality Was Not On Schedule To Meet An Important Milestone. “The report said the DOE knew in May that Ecotality was not on track to meet an important milestone for a grant to install charging stations and that agency officials failed to disclose that information for an audit that the inspector general’s office released roughly two months later.” (Josh Hicks, “Energy Dept. Failed To Report Concerns As Green-Tech Firm Was Heading For Bankruptcy,” Washington Post , 11/7/13)

Inspector General Gregory Friedman: “We Are Deeply Concerned Because The Information Directly Related To The Objective Of Our Audit, To Determine Whether The Department Had Effectively Awarded And Managed Funding To ECOtality.” “‘We are deeply concerned because the information directly related to the objective of our audit, to determine whether the Department had effectively awarded and managed funding to Ecotality,’ Friedman said in the latest report.” (Josh Hicks, “Energy Dept. Failed To Report Concerns As Green-Tech Firm Was Heading For Bankruptcy,” Washington Post , 11/7/13)

ECOTALITY, WHICH RECEIVED OVER $100 MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDS, FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN SEPTEMBER

In September 2013, ECOtality, Inc. Filed For Bankruptcy. “On September 16, 2013, ECOtality, Inc. (the ‘Company’) and its U.S. subsidiaries (collectively with the Company, the “Debtors”) each filed a voluntary petition for relief (the ‘Bankruptcy Filing’) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the ‘Bankruptcy Code’) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona (the ‘Bankruptcy Court’). The Debtors have proposed to jointly administer their chapter 11 cases under the caption In re Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation, dba ECOtality North America , Case No. 2:13-bk-16126-RJH (the ‘Chapter 11 Case’).” (ECOtality, Inc., Form 8-K, Filed 9/16/13)

Via: gop.com

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Global warming gets nearly twice as much taxpayer money as border security

New estimates show the federal government will spend nearly twice as much fighting global warming this year than on U.S. border security.

The White House reported to House Republicans that there are 18 federal agencies engaged in global warming activities in 2013, funding a wide range of programs, including scientific research, international climate assistance, incentivizing renewable energy technology and subsidies to renewable energy producers. Global warming spending is estimated to cost $22.2 billion this year, and $21.4 billion next year.

At the same time, the federal government will spend nearly $12 billion on customs and border enforcement this year.

Obama’s climate agenda has attracted criticism from congressional Republicans who have been hammering the administration over the accountability and transparency of its global warming efforts.

Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee have been calling on the heads of major federal agencies to testify on global warming activities. So far, only the heads of the Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have opted to testify in front of the House.

“With billions of dollars currently being spent annually on climate change activities, Congress and the public should understand the scope of what the federal government is doing, how the billions of dollars are being spent, and what it will accomplish,” said Kentucky Republican Rep. Ed Whitfield. “Anyone who believes the committee ought to be focusing its attention on climate change related issues should be standing with us to get these answers.”

Earlier this summer, the Senate held a hearing to highlight the immediate impacts of global warming. However, Senate Republicans released a report ahead of the hearing that rejected many of the claims made by scientists, politicians and activists about rising global temperatures.

“Over nearly four decades, numerous predictions have had adequate time to come to fruition, providing an opportunity to analyze and compare them to today’s statistics,” reads the report from Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Via: Daily Caller

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U.S. Study Makes Case for Its Failed Weatherization Program

Surprise, surprise a new government study makes a powerful case for a fraud-infested welfare program that’s already fleeced American taxpayers out of millions to make low-income houses energy efficient.

 This can only mean the Obama administration plans to continue funding and promoting the scandal-plagued weatherization program which has proven to be a huge boondoggle infested with fraud and corruption. The money— a total of $5 billion from the disastrous stimulus—is distributed by the Department of Energy (DOE) to charities and community groups that have stolen the cash or used it illegally.

The idea is to make the homes of poor folks more efficient by offering them free insulation, sealing and even new central heating and cooling systems compliments of Uncle Sam. Instead there have been serious problems in the workmanship of more than half of the weatherization jobs in some states and a chunk of the money has been illegally spent by community group employees in other states to buy personal items. In one instance the husband of a charity employee got $10,000 worth of U.S. taxpayer-financed work on his house even though it didn’t qualify.

Nevertheless, the Obama administration shamelessly continues promoting and funding the hapless endeavor nationwide. In fact, Vice President Joe Biden has advertised it as an example of success in stimulus spending even though a federal audit exposed serious corruption problems in the weatherization program in his home state of Delaware. The state had received $13.7 million for weatherization projects when the scathing probe found “gross mismanagement” and fraudulent activity that includes contractors getting paid for work that was never done. 

Now, as if to counter the documented problems in the government’s costly weatherization enterprise, a new taxpayer-funded study outlines all the wonderful things about the program. For instance, as a nation we could consume much less energy and save an astounding $33 billion a year. A group of topnotch scientists conducted the research, which was funded by the DOE and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Accessing the entire study costs $35.95, but highlights are available for free from a government website announcing the findings. The nutshell version is that the paper, which includes a lot of technical scientific terms, makes a strong argument for weatherization especially as winter approaches. However, this is an area that still requires “more research” to figure out the most effective ways to weatherize, according to the government-funded scientists who conducted this particular study.

Via: Judicial Watch

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Plug-Ins Account For Less Than Half of 1% of Auto Sales This Year

(CNSNews.com) –  After the federal government spent billions of dollars on federal tax credits and subsidies to promote all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, they accounted for less than half of one percent of the 11.7 million light vehicles purchased in the U.S. during the last nine months.

In his 2011 “State of the Union” address, President Obama predicted that the U.S. would “become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015,” and backed up his prediction with $2.4 billion in federal grants to companies that produce lithium-ion batteries to power them.

But with 14 months to go, sales of the two top-selling plug-in cars are running far behind the president’s expectations. And despite receiving $99.8 million in stimulus funds, electric charging station manufacturer Ecotality filed for bankruptcy last month.

In April, the Congressional Research Service reported that “there is a gap between the Administration’s goal of having one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 and consumer demand for such vehicles.” (See CRS.pdf)

Auto sales figures during the first nine months of 2013 confirm CRS’ conclusion.

According to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) “February 2011 Status Report,” General Motors was supposed to produce and sell 120,000 Chevrolet Volts in 2013 to keep pace with the president’s goal.

Via: CNS News

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Green Energy Co. Folds after Obama gives it $99.8 Mil

For the third time in just a few months, another one of President Obama’s alternative energy ventures has failed after getting tens of millions of dollars from American taxpayers. It’s a tired old story that nevertheless keeps repeating itself as the administration moves forward with an aggressive plan to make America green.

This month’s failed green experiment du jour features a company (ECOtality) that makes charging stations for electric cars. Like many of the other bankrupt businesses that have received government handouts, it’s situated in northern California and Uncle Sam gave it $99.8 million before it collapsed. The cash was doled out by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars for similar projects.

ECOtality was supposed to make charging stations for electric cars but instead it filed for bankruptcy which means that, once again, American taxpayers have been fleeced by another one of Obama’s alternative energy ventures. Get this; the company attributes its financial problems to “disappointing sales” and “a suspension of payments from the federal government.”

In the last few months two different fly-by-night companies went down after getting large sums from the government for their failed ventures. The first was Fisker Automotive, which received nearly $200 million to develop a wheelchair-accessible “green” van. The startup had been heavily touted by the administration as an innovator that would develop two lines of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that could run up to 300 miles on a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. In fact, the Obama administration planned to give Fisker $528 million but the cash finally stopped flowing when the company laid off three quarters of its employees and announced it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Soon after Fisker’s collapse another startup called Vehicle Production Group (VPG) went under after losing $50 million in taxpayer funds. VPG was supposed to create special vans for the disabled that run on compressed natural gas. Here’s how the Obama administration justified funding this experiment with public dollars: “This project invests in a socially and environmentally responsible product that will create new jobs, promote the use of alternative fuels, and help the U.S. maintain its competitive edge in the automotive industry.” The DOE has since taken the page down, but we got the quote straight from the agency’s announcement touting VPG.

There have been many other clean energy ventures that have also failed miserably after receiving exorbitant allocations from American taxpayers. Remember Solyndra, the northern California solar panel company—bankrolled by Obama fundraiser George Kaiser—that folded after getting $529 million from the government?

Despite the “serious concerns” of U.S. Treasury officials about the risky infusion, a federal audit exposed how the controversial deal was suspiciously rushed through for a politically-connected entrepreneur that had raised large sums for Obama. Judicial Watch is investigating the Solyndra scandal and has sued the administration for records related to the shady deal.

Then there’s the administration’s multi-million-dollar investment in “green jobs’ that will never exist. A few months ago afederal audit revealed that the government has blown half a billion dollars to train workers for the fantasy positions to fulfill Obama’s promise of creating 5 million green jobs over the next decade. It’s simply not happening and only half of the trainees in the program get work, most in areas unrelated to renewable energy.

Via: Judicial Watch

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Layoffs Hit Taxpayer-backed ECOtality

40 employees laid off as green energy company eyes bankruptcy

A taxpayer-backed green energy company teetering on the edge of bankruptcy laid off dozens of employees on Friday, including all remaining employees in its industrial division.

ECOtality received about $115 million in taxpayer funds through the 2009 stimulus bill and an additional grant from the Department of Energy to build electric vehicle charging stations.

ECOtality laid off 40 employees on Friday. The San Francisco-based company still has 51 people on staff, but its industrial division is empty, and it has stopped filling orders for chargers.

“It’s been a bloodbath,” one employee, who still has her job, said in documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

“We heard that last Friday’s pay was the last paycheck,” the employee said.

ECOtality announced in August that it might file for bankruptcy. The Energy Department, which selected ECOtality as its primary contractor for the EV Project, suspended payments to the company in light of its financial troubles.

ECOtality faces a class action lawsuit from investors who say company executives misled them regarding its financial health.

“Neither the company’s direct sales force nor the independent dealers have generated sales volumes of its commercial EVSE products sufficient, in combination with other sources of revenue, to support the company’s operations in the second half of 2013,” ECOtality said in an August filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It disclosed in the same filing that some of its chargers have experienced significant manufacturing defects, in some cases even causing charge ports to melt.

“The government kept throwing good money after bad even though the inevitability of this was clear for over a year,” one company executive told the Free Beacon in an email

Via: WFB

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What’s Another $45 Million at the Energy Department?

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced it is spending $45 million of taxpayer money for 38 different projects for advanced transportation technologies. But private companies should be making these investments on their own to provide the best products available for consumers.

The 38 projects funded by DOE are going to universities, laboratories, and private companiesfor development of more efficient batteries for electric vehicles, advanced fuels and lubricants, efficient heating ventilations and air conditioning systems, and the next generation of lightweight materials to make cars lighter while not compromising safety.

The list of projects come across as innovative, cutting-edge, and perhaps transformative of the transportation industry. But automakers and other manufacturers are not paying for this research themselves; they’re relying on taxpayer money.

If companies believe it is in their best interest to invest in research and development, they should make those investments with their own money. The companies that identify opportunities will capture the economic benefits, and those that don’t will remain stagnant or suffer. When companies have to make those choices with their own money, risk and reward are properly aligned.

In some instances, the DOE spending is blatant corporate welfare. DOE awarded $1.5 million to Caterpillar, $1.75 million to General Electric, $3 million to 3M Company, and $350,000 to Ford Motor Company. If these companies believe it is valuable to work with the DOE laboratories and universities, they should do so, but there is no need for taxpayers to subsidize them.

Via: The Foundry

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Obama Revives Green Car Loans on Heels of Fisker Bankruptcy

A fly-by-night electric car company recently folded after getting nearly $200 million from the government yet the Obama administration plans to pour more money into the green auto loan program, according to a mainstream news report that acknowledges it’s “controversial.”

That’s quite an understatement considering the shady experiment’s history. It’s called Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) and it’s one of the president’s disastrous green-energy investments. The idea, according to the agency that runs it, the Department of Energy (DOE), is to support the development of advanced technology vehicles that meet higher efficiency standards. In all, the administration has set aside $25 billion for the cause.

So far it has proven to be a huge boondoggle that’s fleeced American taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of dollars. In fact, just a few months ago the initiative’s big hope, Fisker Automotive, shut down after receiving $193 million from Uncle Sam. The Obama DOE had pledged $529 million for the California startup but the cash finally stopped flowing when Fisker laid off three quarters of its employees and announced it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Judicial Watch has an ongoing investigation into the Fisker scandal and in early 2012 sued the DOE for records detailing the government “loan” that will obviously never be repaid. The Obama administration touted it as a great investment in a company that would create thousands of jobs in a region hit hard by unemployment. The administration also promised Fisker would develop two lines of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that could run up to 300 miles on a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery.

“Several problems,” including the multi-million-dollar Fisker fleecing, put the green car loan program on hold but it’s making a comeback, according to senior DOE officials cited in the news story. They have “signaled the Obama administration is ready to restart a controversial automotive loan program designed to kick-start the development of alternative vehicles,” according to the article which was published this week.

Via: Judicial Watch

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