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View Full Version : Fossil Fuel Subsidies Dwarf Support For Renewables




DamianTV
07-31-2010, 08:41 AM
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/07/31/058254/Fossil-Fuel-Subsidies-Dwarf-Support-For-Renewables


TravisTR sends word of research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance which found that direct subsidies for renewable energy from governments worldwide totaled $43-46 billion in 2009, an amount vastly outstripped by the $557 billion in fossil fuel subsidies during 2008.

"The BNEF preliminary analysis suggests the US is the top country, as measured in dollars deployed, in providing direct subsidies for clean energy with an estimated $18.2bn spent in total in 2009. Approximately 40% of this went toward supporting the US biofuels sector with the rest going towards renewables. The federal stimulus program played a key role; its Treasury Department grant program alone provided $3.8bn in support for clean energy projects. China, the world leader in new wind installations in 2009 with 14GW, provided approximately $2bn in direct subsidies, according to the preliminary analysis. This figure is deceptive, however, as much crucial support for clean energy in the country comes in form of low-interest loans from state-owned banks. State-run power generators and grid companies have also been strongly encouraged by the government to tap their balance sheets in support of renewables."

Not sure this totally qualifies as Health, but it can be worked in...

Fox McCloud
07-31-2010, 01:20 PM
not really worth comparing--considering renewables make up 7% or less of the electricity generation in the United States, it is disproportionate.

I'm all for repealing the fossil fuel subsidies, but the "alternative" subsidies need to go too.

Kotin
07-31-2010, 01:22 PM
I'm all for repealing the fossil fuel subsidies, but the "alternative" subsidies need to go too.

Indeed.. The people responsible for these subisidies, on both sides, should not be circumventing the market and stealing from us to do it.