I think the difference between these two projects is that loans were guaranteed. That's completely different from "funding research." Here's the Master Government List of Federally Funded Research and Development:
Master Government List of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers
Covers these areas:
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Department of Transportation
Department of the Treasury
In all of this research, almost every single project is managed by a nonprofit, university, or government agency. I could find only
three industrial companies receiving research money from the U.S. Government:
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory -- (Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC [7]), Idaho Falls, ID
Sandia National Laboratories -- (Sandia Corporation, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp.), Albuquerque, NM
Savannah River Technology Center -- Westinghouse Savannah River Co.), Aiken, SC
So. The research program is by-passed and industrial winners/losers are picked. With -- so far -- two losers standing tall. I'm not blaming this on one party or the other, but if the Executive Branch hand-picked these firms, then we have to look at the wisdom of allowing that to happen. Waaay too much room for political payback, stock market investment gains, etc.
In the early 2000's, Beacon's share price was around $20. In August, 2010, when our government guaranteed their loans, their stock price was under $5.00. In just over one year, with that wonderful influx of capital, this company's stock is now trading at just over 8 cents per share. Who picked it? Who shorted it??