That title provides a reasonable summation of Estimating U.S. Government Subsidies to Energy Sources: 2002-2008, a report released today by the Environmental Law Institute and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars looking at U.S. subsidies for energy, the relationship of fossil fuel to renewable energy subsidies, and how this relates to foreign production of energy. In short, two key points:

  • For Fiscal Years 2002-2008, the lion’s share of energy subsidies supported energy sources that emit high levels of greenhouse gases.
  • The largest U.S subsidies to fossil fuels are attributed to tax breaks that aid foreign oil production

Thus, as this post’s title suggests, US subsidies through the Bush Administration promoted the production of dirty energy overseas to create jobs for foreigners and send US dollars overseas rather than promoting clean energy (cleanliness) that would create jobs for Americans.


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