pcgumban | 
04 30th, 2009| 
Gretch asked:
One of the favorite things for opponents of alternative energy sources to do is to point out that alternative energy can’t compete with conventional energy without government subsidies. Yet, numerous direct and indirect subsidies are given to fossil fuel sources like oil and coal, such as cheap loans from the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service. Indirect subsidies include items such as free public use of roads, tax credits for oil drilling, subsidized health care for respiratory illness and military actions needed to maintain a steady oil supply. Should we continue to subsidize dirty energy sources? If all subsidies, direct and indirect, were removed from fossil fuels, would they still be cheaper then alternative energy?
Amy
One of the favorite things for opponents of alternative energy sources to do is to point out that alternative energy can’t compete with conventional energy without government subsidies. Yet, numerous direct and indirect subsidies are given to fossil fuel sources like oil and coal, such as cheap loans from the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service. Indirect subsidies include items such as free public use of roads, tax credits for oil drilling, subsidized health care for respiratory illness and military actions needed to maintain a steady oil supply. Should we continue to subsidize dirty energy sources? If all subsidies, direct and indirect, were removed from fossil fuels, would they still be cheaper then alternative energy?
Amy