Frequent NRO contributor Chris Horner breaks news on Assistant Secretary of Energy Cathy Zoi, former CEO of Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection. Zoi now manages billions of federal dollars for renewable energy, but retains — how could this be?!? — large financial stakes in companies in a position to benefit handsomely from her Department’s policies:
Among Zoi’s holdings are shares in Serious Materials, Inc., the previously sleepy, now bustling, friend of the Obama White House whose public policy operation is headed by her husband. Between them, Zoi and her husband hold 120,000 shares in Serious Materials, as well as stock options. Reporter John Stossel has already explored what he sees as the “crony capitalism” implied by Zoi being so able to influence the fortunes of a company to which she is so closely associated.
In addition, the disclosure forms reflect that Zoi holds between $250,000 and $500,000 in “founders shares” in Landis+Gyr, a Swiss “smart meter” firm. She also still owns between $15,000 and $50,000 in ordinary shares.
Smart meters play a big part in the Obama administration’s “smart grid” plans, the adoption of which would likely be a windfall for Zoi and Landis+Gyr.
Horner has more here.
Nor is Zoi alone. A while back, our own Stephen Spruiell detailed the Planet Gore / “Green Economy” cash nexus in the pages of NRODT (behind the paywall).