CEO of bankrupt electric bus company Biden once praised still serves on key advisory council

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso is asking President Biden to remove the top executive for Proterra Inc. from the presidential export council, considering he led the EV technology company into bankruptcy. 

The California-based company filed for bankruptcy in August, citing financial troubles stemming from “market and macroeconomic headwinds.”

“It’s unclear why [CEO Gareth] Joyce, having overseen the failure of Proterra, should continue to advise you on issues of such great importance to our nation’s economic security and wellbeing,” Barrasso, a Republican, wrote in his request to Biden, a Democrat.

The council advises the president of government policies and programs impacting trade performance, opportunities and problems.

In 2001, Biden took a virtual tour of Proterra in which he praised the company and its potential.

Schools and local governments have since reported reliability issues with Proterra's electric buses that the Biden administration has ignored.

Barrasso said that by retaining Joyce, the president is continuing to play political favorites with Proterra and pointed to other apparent ties the company has to administration officials.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm served on Proterra’s board just months before her appointment and made $1.6 million from sales of her Proterra stock from which she was forced to divest upon leading the agency, amid conflict-of-interest concerns.

Barrasso concluded his letter with a series of questions probing, among other issues, why Joyce was appointed to the council. He also requested a full account of all government funds, grants and incentives Proterra and its partners have received.