Federal support for energy companies, including loans, loan guarantees and grants, is a recurring political fight. The public record lets readers judge the results directly.
The Loan Programs Office
The Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) backs large projects that private lenders consider too risky. Its best-known cases sit at opposite ends of the record:
- Solyndra, a California solar-panel maker, received a loan guarantee of about $535 million and went bankrupt in 2011.
- Tesla received a $465 million loan in 2010 and repaid it early, in 2013.
Government Accountability Office reviews have looked at how the office screens and monitors loans. The office publishes a portfolio summary that lists losses alongside interest earned.
Grants and stimulus-era awards
Separately, the 2009 stimulus funded battery and manufacturing grants. One recipient, battery maker A123 Systems, filed for bankruptcy in 2012. Its automotive business was bought in 2013 by Wanxiang, a Chinese auto-parts company, after a federal review. The sale became a lasting example in debates over how taxpayer-backed technology is protected.
Montana’s share
Montana entities, including utilities, tribal governments, rural electric cooperatives and universities, have received federal energy funding through several programs. Award amounts change often, so the most reliable approach is to look them up directly.
How to check awards yourself
- USAspending.gov: filter by “Place of Performance: Montana” and by the awarding agency (Department of Energy).
- DOE Loan Programs Office portfolio: https://www.energy.gov/lpo/portfolio-projects
- Grants.gov for open funding opportunities.
For more background, see our explainers on Montana wind power, Montana’s business tax incentives, and how federal environmental rules reach Montana. Find more stories in our Business section.
Sources: DOE Loan Programs Office; GAO reports on the DOE loan programs; USAspending.gov.