Joseph Knollenberg: “It is further my understanding, Mr. Chairman, that the Department of Energy approved grants within the fuel cell program…”

“It is further my understanding, Mr. Chairman, that the Department of Energy approved grants within the fuel cell program and that these grants have had an impact on the market value of the companies that have been designated as grantees. A part of my confusion is how these grants could have been approved by the DOE, the Department of Energy, if the funding for these grants were dependent on future appropriations. I also am not clear whether the grant recipients can receive a portion of their grant even when the amount appropriated is not enough to fund all the department's approved grants. Mr. Chairman, I understand there is some good research being conducted within this program, including some research in my home State of Michigan, but the gentleman can see there still appears to me a lot of confusion surrounding the issue. I am asking the gentleman today to work with me to clarify some of this confusion surrounding the funding level for the automotive fuel cell program.”