When President Joe Biden rolled out his ambitious green energy agenda, he pushed for massive investments in infrastructure projects aimed at transforming America's energy landscape. Under the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan, these efforts received billions of dollars in funding, including a substantial $42 billion for rural broadband expansion and $7.5 billion for the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. However, as the years go by, many are questioning: Where did all that money go, and why are the results so underwhelming?
The broadband expansion, a key pillar of Biden's effort to bring high-speed internet to rural America, has become a poster child for inefficiency. Despite a hefty $42 billion allocation, not a single household has been connected to broadband as of late 2024. The program, mired in bureaucratic delays, equipment shortages, and logistical challenges, has not made any meaningful progress. While the government surely spent a considerable amount, the outcome has been disappointing. Politico’s “Biden’s Billions” series, which has tracked the progress of these initiatives, found little to show for the broadband funds thus far.
Critics are now questioning how a program with such vast funding has failed to connect a single home, raising suspicions that the funds could have been mismanaged or diverted. Some suggest that a simpler solution, such as distributing Starlink subscriptions to households, could have provided quicker results.
A similar situation has unfolded with Biden's $7.5 billion initiative to build a nationwide network of EV charging stations. Initially, the plan was to install 500,000 charging stations across the country to support the transition to electric vehicles. However, after three years, the Department of Transportation had only managed to install 47 charging stations across 15 states. That’s right – just 47 stations, far from the grand goal that was promised.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has overseen the project, initially tried to downplay the slow progress, admitting in May that only “seven or eight” stations had been built over the past three years. Despite public pressure, the White House did ramp up efforts and added 40 more stations in the months that followed. At this rate, the nation would see only 412 new stations by 2030, falling drastically short of the promised 500,000. To meet that goal, nearly 7,000 new stations would need to be installed every month – a pace that appears unattainable.
Once again, the question arises: Where did all that money go? Critics argue that the funds didn’t simply sit idle; they were actively disbursed. Whether due to incompetence, mismanagement, or something more troubling, the results speak for themselves: billions spent with little to show for it.
Biden’s green energy initiatives were sold as transformational investments for the future of the country, but many are left wondering whether these programs were simply another example of government waste. As the new Congress prepares to take office, questions about the handling of these funds will undoubtedly be at the forefront of discussions. Were the funds allocated to political allies, or perhaps funneled into less-than-transparent contracts? Given the lack of tangible outcomes, these are questions that demand answers. The public deserves to know where their tax dollars went, and why so many high-profile initiatives have failed to deliver.
This is just the beginning. The broadband and EV charging station programs are only two of many initiatives funded by Biden's green energy agenda. With billions of dollars at stake, it remains to be seen whether these programs will ever live up to their promises – or if they will fade into the annals of government inefficiency.
