I wrote:
In 2008 --
Worldwide government subsidies for renewable energy: ~$45 billion
Worldwide government subsidies for fossil fuel: ~$557 billion
Info from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF)
To be fair . . .
As noted in the comments below this article, there is no indication
of the subsidy dollar amount per kWh of energy delivered. I expect
this would show a lot more money going to alternative energy such as
wind turbines than, say, coal.
It is unreasonable to expect a new technology to compete with a
highly successful, entrenched technology. Ever since the early 19th
century governments has subsidized promising new technology to give
it an advantage. For example, starting in 1840 the British government
subsidized steamships by giving them generous contracts to carry the
mail. This also enhanced their status and attracted passengers. It is
the origin of the designation "RMS" (Royal Mail Ship) which I suppose
today is most often associated with the RMS Titanic -- not such a good image.
- Jed
