IMF’s Disingenuous Attempt to Tax Energy Use

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its estimate of global fossil fuel subsidies for 2015 at $5.3 trillion—almost ten times higher than the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) calculation of $548 billion for 2013.[i] The difference is not the change of a 2-year span, but the methodology. The IEA uses a “price-gap” methodology, which is the […]

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Time to Break Obama’s Big Green Bank

A growing chorus of opposition is emerging against the U.S. Export-Import Bank. The bank’s authorization expires June 30, but while President Obama and his corporate cronies are lobbying for reauthorization, a coalition of organizations representing millions of Americans sent a letter to Congress calling for an end to Ex-Im, which “unfairly hurts domestic companies and […]

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On Tax Day, Big Wind Gets A Windfall

The wind industry often peddles the false claim that conventional energy sources like natural gas, coal, and nuclear receive more subsidies than wind power. Industry lobbyists at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) use this myth as a talking point to push for more subsidies, including the federal Production Tax Credit. In reality, the exact […]

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Newsweek: What’s the True Cost of Wind Power?

Randy Simmons, professor of political economy at Utah State University, recently co-authored an article with Strata Policy Analyst Megan Hansen that sheds light on the true, hidden cost of wind power. Simmons and Hansen find that the enormous amount of federal subsidies and grants given to wind power every year make it hard for Americans to understand just […]

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Harry Reid Reaps Subsidies for Green Energy Companies

A new report raises questions about dealings between Sen. Harry Reid and green energy companies seeking federal subsidies. These companies received billions in taxpayer dollars after donating to an organization run by Reid allies, according to The Washington Free Beacon. Reid, who was Senate Majority Leader from 2007–2015, has bragged about steering federal grants and […]

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Big Ethanol's 'Trifecta' of Goodies

Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) offered an astute observation recently about federal ethanol policy. Speaking at a National Journal event titled, “Biofuels Mandate: Defend, Reform, or Repeal,” Welch pointed out that the ethanol industry has benefited from a “trifecta” of preferential federal policies: subsidies, tariffs, and mandates. Beyond wasting taxpayer funds, these policies have real, harmful […]

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In the Pipeline: 7/19/2013

When Bill Nordhaus thinks a tax scheme is pointless, it is pointless. If we were Hill staff, this would go into our everyday talking points.Fox News (7/18/13) reports: “As President Obama last month launched a sweeping new national program to combat ‘climate change,’ including tens of billions of dollars in likely new subsidies for solar and […]

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PYLE: More Tax Giveaways to Big Wind?

WASHINGTON D.C. — AEA President Thomas Pyle released the following statement in response to today’s decision by the Internal Revenue Service to establish a loose definition for the wind Production Tax Credit’s qualifying language. According to the new IRS guidelines, wind projects can receive 10 years of taxpayer-funded subsidies by committing as little as 5 […]

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