Europe has implemented Feed-In Tariffs. Shouldn’t We Learn from their Experience? Europe’s feed-in tariffs have led to higher electricity prices without having positive impacts on emissions reductions, employment, energy security, or technological innovation. In Spain, the feed-in tariff has helped create a rate deficit so great that it imperils the sustainability of Spain’s electricity system. [...]

Electric utilities are constructing expensive and inefficient solar plants because of subsidies and mandates from federal and state governments. The subsidies are not free–they come from the American taxpayer. And once the subsidies expire, consumers will pay higher electricity rates. So, either as taxpayers or as consumers, the American public is paying for these facilities. [...]

The Center for American Progress has released a new study [.pdf] to much fanfare from the usual suspects. The study’s title says it all: “Out of the Running? How Germany, Spain, and China Are Seizing the Energy Opportunity and Why the United States Risks Getting Left Behind.” In this context, of course, “seizing the energy [...]

The so-called $787 billion “stimulus” package is creating some “green jobs” — this we’re certain. Unfortunately, though, many of these taxpayer-supported jobs are not in the United States. In fact, a billion hard-earned (and borrowed) U.S. tax dollars are being directed to create jobs in China, of all places. Some stimulus, huh? And at the [...]

“It is almost impossible to know who is the government and who the lobbyists. They have merged into one single animal with different faces.” – Dr. Gabriel Calzada, Spanish economics professor and researcher BACKGROUND: Last March, Spanish economics professor Gabriel Calzada published an academic analysis that showed for every green job created in Spain, 2.2 jobs [...]

The Obama Administration’s recently released “Economic Report of the President” devoted an entire chapter to “Transforming the Energy Sector and Addressing Climate Change” [.pdf]. Whenever the government promises to transform an entire sector of the economy, we know to watch out. Upon a simple reading it is obvious that the president’s fancy economic rhetoric doesn’t [...]

The Obama administration is dragging its feet regarding oil drilling in areas previously under moratoria. Because of high gasoline prices during the summer of 2008, the Bush administration reversed the Executive Order prohibiting offshore drilling in areas under moratoria, and Congress let the ban against such drilling expire. The Bush administration then set its Department [...]

IER calls on the administration to unlock taxpayer-owned energy resources IER President: “Americans need jobs and America needs fuel to drive economic growth and prosperity. Increasing domestic energy production is a common sense solution embraced by a clear majority of Americans” Washington, DC – Today, one in 10 Americans are out of work. However, the Obama [...]

Latest round of government handouts to create temporary ‘green’ jobs, line corporate fat-cat pockets WASHINGTON – Following President Obama’s remarks on “green” jobs and “clean energy technology,” Thomas J. Pyle, president of the market based Institute for Energy Research (IER), issued the following statement on the President’s commitment of $2.3 billion additional taxpayer dollars to further subsidize the wind [...]

Unsustainable, taxpayer-funded “green jobs” focus of Senate Finance hearing today Washington, DC – As part of the ongoing efforts in the US Senate to enact sweeping, energy-rationing legislation, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing today entitled “Climate Change Legislation: Considerations for Future Jobs.” Following the hearing, Thomas J. Pyle, president of the non-partisan, market-oriented Institute [...]