The Wall Street Journal — continuing its tradition of providing free advertising for fossil fuels in the form of opinion pieces — published an oped by Tim Phillips arguing that we should end the wind power Production Tax Credit (PTC), a 22-year-old subsidy for wind power. It just so happens, however, that Phillips is none other than the president of Americans for Prosperity, the oil-loving, Koch-funded right-wing "free market" advocacy group.
So what does fossil-fuel-funded Phillips have to say? He claims the PTC's costs are exorbitant, unduly burdening taxpayers, and that some states pay even though they don't produce any wind. Phillips concludes by pointing out that when the wind industry feared the tax credit would end in 2012, there was a 90 percent drop in new projects brought online. According to his twisted logic, the subsidy should therefore end because the industry needs it. (He, of course, fails to mention how the annual approval process for the PTC creates an extremely inefficient boom and bust cycle; meanwhile, fossil fuel subsidies are locked-in.)
While Phillips feigns outrage over the $7.3 billion spent over the past seven years on the PTC, he remains silent about the $21.6 billion spent in subsidies for fossil fuel exploration and production in 2013 alone.
Perhaps if Americans for Prosperity were for the prosperity of ALL Americans, Phillips would be writing to end the $21.6 billion spent annually on fossil fuel subsidies, and not crusading against a clean energy program that costs a third of that amount over seven years.
|
The Climate Action Hub
Building upon the momentum generated by the People's Climate March, The Climate Action Hub focuses the energy and ideas that converged around the 2014 UN Climate Summit to engage civil participation in local, regional and global climate action. The Hub showcases NGOs, eco writers, scientists, bloggers and YOU in a group mission to amplify messaging and promote action on such issues as climate justice, sustainable development and clean energy. It will also serve as a forum for educating and informing the wider public and expand the civil movement to ensure success at the 2015 UNFCCC Paris Climate Summit. Please add any information on climate actions in comments below.
The Climate Action Hub at Daily Kos seeks volunteer ambassadors of climate activism to work on our 'eco swat team' in local communities and here at Daily Kos to disseminate information about the growing role of civil society in climate solutions. Join us here at Daily Kos to contribute your skills and experience. We need all hands on deck!
|