Tell me if you’ve heard this one before.
"This announcement today is part of the unprecedented investment this Administration is making in renewable energy…By investing in the infrastructure and technology of the future, we are not only creating jobs today, but laying the foundation for long-term growth in the 21st-century economy."
It is likely no surprise to learn that quote comes from Joe Biden. After all, he is always quick to brag about his favorite green companies playing a crucial role toward the inevitable energy utopia that is always just around the corner.
The problem? The quote is from 2009 when Biden was Vice President. The jobs in question are at a then little-known solar company called Solyndra. Those who fail to learn from failed green history are doomed to repeat it. And 2023 is the year Joe Biden, and his eco-allies, doubled down on an unstable green failure.
Let’s start with offshore wind projects. Once seen as a key component of the green energy transition, reality delivered significant failures in 2023. In both New Jersey and New York, massive offshore projects were canceled this year despite taxpayer incentives totaling hundreds of millions. In his own Solyndra moment, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said this about his project just last year, “Today’s announcement…is proof that our strategy to establish New Jersey as a national leader in offshore wind is working.” Governor Murphy even went so far as to sign a law allowing the wind company to keep Biden’s federal tax credits, only to see the projects fail just months later. Just like Solyndra, taxpayers offered up millions and, in the end, only inherited the wind. And they were not alone.
In April 2021, Biden paid a “virtual visit” to little-known electric bus manufacturer Proterra Inc. Heaping praise upon the company, Biden said “we’re going to end up owning the future, I think.” Magically, a month after Biden promoted the company, his energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm sold her shares in that same company for a cool $1.6 million. Granholm’s timing could not be better, as the company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
No matter if it is wind or electric school busses, the life cycle of a Biden-approved project is about a year after the adoring press conference. However, there is one way to extend the life, and that’s a taxpayer bailout.
In October it was reported the CEO of electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian brought lobbyists along to a quiet meeting at the White House with Biden’s clean energy czar John Podesta. Neither the company nor Team Biden will disclose what was discussed but with the company losing nearly $11 billion over the last 3 years, a bailout isn’t crazy speculation. Biden put political operative Podesta in charge of a $369 billion green slush fund and now he’s meeting with EV companies that are hemorrhaging money. So it was in 2023.
This year also provided one embarrassing storyline after the other when it came to Joe Biden’s push to force electric vehicles (EV) on the public:
Granholm tried to go on a “See it works” tour with an EV but needed gas-powered cars to get it done and was the recipient of a 911 call as a bonus.
Both Ford and GM announced they were tapping the brakes on their EV ambitions.
Nearly 3900 car dealers sent a letter to Biden telling him EVs are “stacking up on our lots.”
Despite the fact the Ford F-150 has been the most popular vehicle in the country for over 40 years, the company announced they will cut production on the electric version by 50 percent because it’s not selling.
The green failures of 2023 are almost too numerous to count, and the worst aspect is that they were avoidable. Since his first day in office, Biden has fought a two-front war on American energy. On one side, he is doing all he can to destroy American coal, oil, and natural gas and his attacks are successful. From record prices at the pump, sticker shock at the grocery store, to sky-high interest rates, everyone is paying the price for Biden’s “success.”
On the second front, his push to force his failed products of wind and EVs is failing miserably. Assuming you count failure as the loss of jobs and record amounts of taxpayer money. Sadly, for the architect of Solyndra, those failures will continue to have plenty of power in 2024.
Larry Behrens is the Communications Director for Power The Future and is the author of the book, “Sabotage: How Joe Biden Surrendered American Energy Independence.” He’s also appeared on Fox News, Newsmax and One America News. You can find him on Twitter at @larrybehrens or email at larry@powerthefuture.com.