IG: Energy Grants for Electric Car Charging 'Overly Generous'

Energy Department (DOE) grants to Ecotality, a company that makes charging stations for electric cars went too far, though they weren't illegal, according to a report from the DOE's inspector general.

Republicans have launched withering criticism at Ecotality for the $135 million it has received from DOE, The Hill reports. Of that total, $100 million came as part of the fiscal stimulus program in 2009, and the remainder came in grants from 2005 to 2011.

"While we did not specifically identify evidence indicating that the cost-share was prohibited under federal regulations, we did note that the amount of cost-share permitted appeared to be fairly generous,? DOE Inspector General Gregory Friedman wrote in the report.

Indeed, "existing policies were not effective in preventing what we consider to be the allowance of an overly generous cost-share for this project," he said.

Ecotality garnered its grants for a regional project to demonstrate its charging stations. Friedman investigated whether the federal government could pay for Ecotality costs that are usually allocated to consumers.

"While in-kind contributions that are directly proportional to value received are allowable, the vehicles and Internet connections were purchased to satisfy personal needs of consumers, not solely for the project," Friedman wrote.

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Source: http://www.newsmax.com/US/ecotality-grants-department-energy/2013/07/30/id/517748

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