By Lena Babaeva Coradini

The Obama administration has hired a Washington-based venture capitalist to lead its efforts to choose alternative-energy companies and car markers that will win loan money and guarantees form the federal government:

The appointment of Jonathan Silver -- managing general partner of Core Capital Partners, an investor in alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, telecommunications and software companies -- makes him the latest in a growing roster of venture capitalists in positions of influence at the Department of Energy. . . .

Mr. Silver, 52 years old, will be executive director of the Energy Department's loan program office, the agency said Tuesday. His job will be to oversee the Department's loan-guarantee program and a DOE program that is supposed to disburse up to $25 billion in loans to auto makers to help them speed the introduction of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicles. Mr. Silver wasn't available for comment.

Since taking office, the Obama administration has announced more than $8 billion in loans to Ford Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., Tesla Motors Inc. and Fisker Automotive Inc. It also has awarded a loan guarantee to solar-panel maker Solyndra Inc. to help the company build a factory in Fremont, Calif.

The Obama administration has faced some criticism for not moving fast enough on granting loans and loan guarantees, and there is hope that the new appointment will serve to speed that process up.