#eestor

Public officials might be well advised to steer clear of controversy, but when it comes to energy storage startup EEStor, its investor Zenn Motor — and the companies’ bold claims about the disruptive potential of EEStor’s ultracapacitor technology — a couple of Congressmen are plowing right ahead.

Representatives John Carter of Texas and Mark Schauer of Michigan, who have lent their support to EEStor and Zenn in recent months, are the latest example of how some politicians have rushed to align themselves with clean energy ventures whether or not the technology and business models are proven. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hailed solar thermal startup Ausra as “one of the best companies in the world,” for example, before the startup laid off staff and was forced to dramatically scale back its ambitions. The trick to currying this favor? Promising to create green jobs.