Saturday, August 18, 2012

Speaking of Subsidies: Solar Subsidies Up 6-Fold; Wind Subsidies Up 10-Fold

As usual, the WSJ gets to the nut of the problem:
The nearby chart shows the assistance that each form of energy for electricity production received in 2010. The natural gas and oil industry received $2.8 billion in total subsidies, not the $4 billion Mr. Obama claims on the campaign trail, and $654 million for electric power. The biggest winner was wind, with $5 billion. Between 2007 and 2010, total energy subsidies rose 108%, but solar's subsidies increased six-fold and wind's were up 10-fold.
The best way to compare subsidy levels is by the amount of energy produced. But the Energy report conspicuously left out this analysis, though Congress specifically requested it.
Solar subsidies, and what do we have to show for it? Solyndra, Amonix, Abound Solar, SunPower - sputtering, Konart Technologies, First Solar -- Enbridge connection; Solar Trust, Cardinal Solar Technologies, Energy Conversion Devices, Topaz Solar Farm (Warren Buffett) -- status unknown, Evergreen Solar, SpectraWatt.

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