Gareth Joyce, the CEO and a board member of California-based electric bus maker Proterra, continues to serve on a top White House council advising President Biden on trade policy even after his company filed for bankruptcy. Joyce has served on the White House Export Council, the principal national advisory committee on international trade which advises Biden on 'government policies and programs that affect U.S. trade performance,' since February.
Biden also touted his support for billions of dollars in federal funding to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission transit buses and school buses during the tour. He has set a goal for all buses made in America to be zero-emissions by 2030. The president has since touted Proterra as an American electric vehicle success story in multiple speeches about his green energy goals. In addition, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has faced widespread criticism for her ownership stake in Proterra.
Mr. President, it is evident that the promotion and favoritism towards Proterra Inc. have resulted in significant losses for taxpayers and investors, including those in my home state of Wyoming,' Barrasso continued in his letter to Biden on Thursday. 'The bankruptcy of Proterra, despite the administration's support, raises serious questions about the reasoning behind these endorsements,' the Wyoming Republican wrote.