fiscal cliff

Wikimedia Commons.

As part of the recent fiscal cliff deal, Congress authorized a one-year extension for the wind production tax credit (PTC) – welcome news for the industry that was largely overshadowed by the other terms of the bargain. But as The Washington Post writer Brad Plumer points out, “even with the tax credit renewal, the wind industry is still...[read more]

Fiscal Cliff via Shutterstock

The US Senate's "fiscal cliff" package wasn't exactly eight maids a-milking--the traditional gift for the eighth day of Christmas--though it did apparently resolve the impending "milk cliff".  Of greater relevance, the "tax extender" portion of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 passed by both the Senate...[read more]

Podcast Episode 115 - Download the mp3 file Play the PodcastMy first reaction was “Wow! Did I just read that correctly?!”It was one of those “ah-ha moments” when a seemingly mundane statement leapt out of the page and whacked me on the forehead.  This time the catalyst was a twitter reply from Chris Pragman (@ChrisPragman...[read more]

Wind Farm via Shutterstock

 In no other industry are the conflicts over subsidies as zero-sum and fever-pitched as they are in the energy sector.Almost always, it seems, energy producers fight tooth and nail for the rote extension of their support even as opponents—whether green or fossil-fueled—fight for its end.  And the disputes go on and on.And yet,...[read more]

The United States’ fiscal cliff is very much related to several changes we have been going through recently, and will likely continue to experience:High oil prices (more than triple their level ten years ago). High oil prices cause people to cut back on discretionary spending, leading to layoffs in discretionary industries and debt...[read more]

Recently I've seen several articles along the lines of this one from CNN, suggesting that an increase in the federal gasoline tax might be included in negotiations to avert the impending US "fiscal cliff".  While the gap between the gas tax, which was last raised in 1993, and highway repair costs grows each year, that's not...[read more]

Wikimedia Commons

“With pencils being sharpened on a debt deal,” Politico reports (subscription article), “all eyes are on the gas tax as a possible savior for transportation spending. But another option that may cause lawmakers less heartburn is being obscured by the gas tax dust: linking energy production with infrastructure spending…includ[ing]...[read more]

If Congress fails to reach an agreement, automatic, across-the-board spending cuts would kick in, making it much harder for the government to deliver the health and environmental protections people value. We would feel these punishing cuts in our daily lives.[read more]