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Re: energy subsidies
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Among the distortions, omissions and half-truths in Jack Kelly's column "Rein in the EPA" (Sept. 2), he includes the following: "President Barack Obama has 'invested' vast sums of taxpayer money in 'renewable' energy firms, many of which, by remarkable coincidence, are owned by major contributors to his campaign. What little energy solar, wind and ethanol, etc. produce is much more expensive than energy from coal, oil and (especially) natural gas."
While it's true that federal subsidies have supported nascent renewable energy industries, the dollar amount from 2002 to 2008, according to the organization 350.org, was $12.2 billion -- as compared to $72 billion in subsidies during the same period for the fossil fuel industry (which, by no coincidence whatsoever, is a major contributor to the campaign funds of Mr. Obama's political rivals). That's nearly six times the cost to the taxpayer, at far less than six times the savings.
So I guess I do agree with Mr. Kelly in one respect: We must "rein in this rogue agency before it destroys our economy, our environment and our liberty." What we must rein in, however, is the fossil fuel industry, not the EPA.
JOSHUA DAVID BELLIN
Regent Square
First Published September 11, 2012 12:00 am
