> http://www.reuters.com/article/summitNews/idUSL1589672020080115
Quote: << At a time when the European Union wants to increase biofuel use to stop global warming, Germany in late 2006 started taxing biodiesel as the government said it could not afford to lose the large tax revenue from fossil diesel. A second round of tax increases on biodiesel was imposed on January 1 despite protests from biodiesel producers. "Sales of biodiesel at petrol stations have really come to a stop," said Schrum. "The tax rise means that biodiesel is about the same price as mineral diesel or even more expensive. We cannot sell biodiesel at this price, it needs to be cheaper as it has a lower energy content." >> What a shame indeed. Their energy policy used to be one of the best in the world, they have just taken a huge step backwards. Note France doesn't fare better in this respect, biofuels here have always been taxed the same as fossil fuel so production never had a chance to take off. Michel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Horace Heffner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 5:58 PM Subject: [Vo]:Germans can be idiots too > For whatever it is worth, at least the US is not the only country > with stupid (or corrupted) energy policies. > > http://www.reuters.com/article/summitNews/idUSL1589672020080115 > > http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1785522220080118 > > It's the same old story. Wipe out the renewable industry instead of > increasing petroleum or other taxes. That way the eventual but > inevitably resulting much larger increase in energy prices and energy > shortages will look like they are caused by someone or something > other than the politicians. This leaves them free to enjoy oil > company backing in the mean time. The renewable industry wipe out is > much more effective this way too. Letting the industry grow and then > shocking them into bankruptcy, instead of maintaining an even policy, > teaches innovators and investors a powerful lesson that keeps many > out of the energy business for years. > > It is pretty easy to find fault with politicians and lobbyists, > especially where corruption is found to be involved. However, the > real problem is lack of an adequately informed public, a public that > understands what is now happening to them and who should be outraged, > and whom politicians should respect or fear when it comes to harming > renewable energy growth. > > Horace Heffner > http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/ > > >
