There Are Over 250 Different Kinds of Fossil Fuel Subsidies We Need to Kill

[Daox]

Everyone likes a fair game right? Well I thought this was only fitting as we've been talking about the end of the ethanol subsity. It caused so much controversy because it was subsidized. Yet, fossil fuels have TONS more subsities nobody ever mentions. This article clears things up a bit.

Also, wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to pay for your neighbor's SUV fuel?

Over the years, the subsidies doled out to the fossil fuels industry have become numerous, entrenched, and quite complex. Which makes them not only quite difficult to remove for political reasons, but often nearly invisible to the average citizen. In fact, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, there are at least 250 different kinds of subsidies for the fossil fuels industry.

There Are Over 250 Different Kinds of Fossil Fuel Subsidies We Need to Kill : TreeHugger

[Ladogaboy]

Interesting read, but I disagree: It doesn't have to take a long time to get rid of these subsidies. Simply identifying them should be good enough. Corporations, for all intents and purposes, should be looked at and treated as individuals. If multiple corporations are benefiting from a particular government subsidy, then they (like individuals would have to) should pay back into the government coffers for those services. Simply put, identify the subsidies and their annual burden on the budget, and raise taxes on the fossil fuels accordingly.

Sure, that means that those costs will be passed on to the consumer, but there is a reason why Americans are paying half of what people in Europe pay for fuel. The last 10 years has already been a pretty big wake up call for Americans, so at this point, people should realize that there is no free lunch.

[NachtRitter]

Absolutely agree the subsidies need to be removed... what is the best approach?

[oil pan 4]

Ending all energy subsities sounds good coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, ethanol, wind, solar, hybrid car, battery developement and the biggest government land grab of them all; hydroelectric.

The biggest one I see a problem with is oil. The govenment puts a lot of money into oil but they get a big return on their investment.
Solar and wind would be easy to get rid of, they are money pits.

[Daox]

Solar and wind subsities account for about 2-3% of the total amount of money given to fuel subsities. IMO hardly a money pit compared to oil. (Sorry, I can't find a link to the actual data, just read that a while back.)

[Ladogaboy]

Originally Posted by Daox

Solar and wind subsities account for about 2-3% of the total amount of money given to fuel subsities. IMO hardly a money pit compared to oil. (Sorry, I can't find a link to the actual data, just read that a while back.)

But what percentage of energy do solar and wind power actually put back into the grid?

[Daox]

I don't have any info for 2011, but in 2010 renewable energy accounted for roughly 11% of the energy produced in the US.

Renewable Energy Provided 11% of Domestic Energy Production in 2010 | Renewable Energy News Article

[Ladogaboy]

Ahh... I was just wondering if there was any parity between the subsidies given and the actual energy produced. Interesting.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by Ladogaboy

Ahh... I was just wondering if there was any parity between the subsidies given and the actual energy produced. Interesting.

Not even close. Billions of dollars have been flushed down the solar toilet, for all that trouble solar produces less than 1% of the US's power and it doesn't work very well at night.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Daox

I don't have any info for 2011, but in 2010 renewable energy accounted for roughly 11% of the energy produced in the US.

Renewable Energy Provided 11% of Domestic Energy Production in 2010 | Renewable Energy News Article

Note that this is all renewables, including Geothermal, Hydroelectric, biofuels, wind, and solar.

Solar is about .15% of overall production
Wind is about 1.2% of overall production

Wind is expanding rapidly though. There's five times as much production today as there was five years ago. New wind tower construction is generally tied to a subsidy (The PTC, or Production Tax Credit which applies to most renewable energy sources).

-Mike
(The company I work for supplies certain components to wind tower manufacturers)