In a study covering 2002-2008, the Environmental Law Institute concluded that federal energy subsidies favored fossil fuels over renewables by a wide margin. Moreover, more than half the renewable subsidies went to corn-based ethanol.

• The vast majority of federal subsidies for fossil fuels and renewable energy supported energy sources that emit high levels of greenhouse gases when used as fuel.

• The federal government provided substantially larger subsidies to fossil fuels than to renewables. Subsidies to fossil fuels—a mature, developed industry that has enjoyed government support for many years—totaled approximately $72 billion over the study period, representing a direct cost to taxpayers.

• Subsidies for renewable fuels, a relatively young and developing industry, totaled $29 billion over the same period.
 
• Subsidies to fossil fuels generally increased over the study period (though they decreased in 2008), while funding for renewables increased but saw a precipitous drop in 2006-07 (though they increased in 2008). The largest subsidies to fossil fuels were written into the U.S. Tax Code as permanent provisions. By comparison, many subsidies for renewables are time-limited initiatives implemented through energy bills, with expiration dates that limit their usefulness to the renewables industry.

• The vast majority of subsidy dollars to fossil fuels can be attributed to just a handful of tax breaks, such as the Foreign Tax Credit ($15.3 billion) and the Credit for Production of Nonconventional Fuels ($14.1 billion, though this credit has since been phased out). The largest of these, the Foreign Tax Credit, applies to the overseas production of oil through an obscure provision of the Tax Code, which allows energy companies to claim a tax credit for payments that would normally receive less-beneficial tax treatment.

   
• • • • •

^{Green diary rescue appears twice weekly in this time slot. Inclusion of a particular diary does not necessarily indicate my agreement with it. The rescue begins below and continues in the jump.}

• • • • •

Crashing Vor gave us a good warning in "Over": "BP's new well cap is in place and pressure tests have begun, with very appropriate caution. If the tests indicate that the well bore and casings have sufficient integrity to withstand the internal pressures of the well, there is a chance that the spigot may get turned off this week.As wonderful as that news is, it will bring a chorus of sighs from the media, the government, the oil industry and well-meaning Gulf Coast residents, a chorus singing, 'It's over!' That chorus will echo throughout the mediasphere. And it will be dead wrong."

In the EcoAdvocates series, Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse offered some hope that Obama May Reverse Bush on Indigenous Rights: "Bush voted against UNDRIP (the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) ostensibly because the declaration was subject to 'conflicting interpretations and debate about its application' and therefore not 'capable of implementation.' If this standard applied to the U.S. Constitution, it would not exist. In reality, Bush did not like that UNDRIP recognizes a range of rights that address corporate and governmental plundering of resources as well as abuse and discrimination. Elections have consequences.  President Obama recognizes that UNDRIP provides a framework for addressing the rights of indigenous peoples so he is now reviewing whether the U.S. should join 144 other countries with its endorsement."

greendem informed us about Moms Turned Mountaineers in Climb Against Coal: "We are four Washington moms, who, on Saturday July 17, will attempt to summit Mount Rainier with a message for our Governor. Our Climb Against Coal challenges Governor Gregoire to close Washington’s largest toxic polluter and point source of deadly carbon: the TransAlta coal-fired power plant in Centralia."

This evening's Rescue Rangers are jlms qkw, Rexymeteorite, grog, claude and jennyjem, who is also editing.

First up, Mark Williams gets schooled:

• Frederick Douglass Responds to the Tea Party and grannyhelen overheard. (jlms qkw)
• Vyan dissects a vile, nasty, and racist letter by Teabag leader Mark Williams in How to NOT Prove You're NOT a Racist. (rexymeteorite)

Other Topics

• Icarus Midnight takes a look at our little known side war in Pakistan and how remotely controlled munitions are changing the face of warfare...and sovereignty, in Hellfire: The Deadliest Video Game in the World. (grog)
• kindler updates us on the right wing hysteria surrounding "Climate-Gate" and explains why In Virginia, the Assault on Academic Freedom Continues. (rexymeteorite)
• The indefatigable BorderJumpers continue highlighting global food issues and the moral imperative we have to ensure everyone has enough to eat, in A Conversation About Organic Agriculture with Chuck Benbrook. (grog)
• barrettbrown says Sarah Palin as Margaret Thatcher? So Be It. (claude)
• Dumbo continues the art/science series in Thursday Classical Music OPUS 3: The Physics of Music. (jlms qkw)
• Here are two diarists trying to make a difference in their communities: first, MillieNeon has an idea for creating a job instead of finding one in Unemployed? Let's start a business. Then, Jane Stillwater joins a local protest in Cold & Hard: Spending the night in Arnieville. (jennyjem)
• Utterly wonderful absurd snark from ShawnGBR: What REALLY happened at the oilcano site... (claude)

jotter has High Impact Diaries: July 15, 2010.

asimbagirl has Top Comments: Let Them Eat Cheesecake Edition.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

This evening's Rescue Rangers are jlms qkw, Rexymeteorite, grog, claude and jennyjem, who is also editing.

First up, Mark Williams gets schooled:

• Frederick Douglass Responds to the Tea Party and grannyhelen overheard. (jlms qkw)
• Vyan dissects a vile, nasty, and racist letter by Teabag leader Mark Williams in How to NOT Prove You're NOT a Racist. (rexymeteorite)

Other Topics

• Icarus Midnight takes a look at our little known side war in Pakistan and how remotely controlled munitions are changing the face of warfare...and sovereignty, in Hellfire: The Deadliest Video Game in the World. (grog)
• kindler updates us on the right wing hysteria surrounding "Climate-Gate" and explains why In Virginia, the Assault on Academic Freedom Continues. (rexymeteorite)
• The indefatigable BorderJumpers continue highlighting global food issues and the moral imperative we have to ensure everyone has enough to eat, in A Conversation About Organic Agriculture with Chuck Benbrook. (grog)
• barrettbrown says Sarah Palin as Margaret Thatcher? So Be It. (claude)
• Dumbo continues the art/science series in Thursday Classical Music OPUS 3: The Physics of Music. (jlms qkw)
• Here are two diarists trying to make a difference in their communities: first, MillieNeon has an idea for creating a job instead of finding one in Unemployed? Let's start a business. Then, Jane Stillwater joins a local protest in Cold & Hard: Spending the night in Arnieville. (jennyjem)
• Utterly wonderful absurd snark from ShawnGBR: What REALLY happened at the oilcano site... (claude)

jotter has High Impact Diaries: July 15, 2010.

asimbagirl has Top Comments: Let Them Eat Cheesecake Edition.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

Walk Score is an entertaining - and potentially useful - site that's fun to play around with. It's simple: You put in your address and it returns a score (out of 100) based on how "walkable" it thinks your neighborhood is, looking at how far away things like the nearest schools, restaurants, and libraries are. It's not always perfect - it thinks the closest park to me is something called "Monarch Parking LLC"... er, almost, but it's actually a parking garage. Still, it gets quite a lot right, and can be a valuable tool if you're ever looking to move.

But for tonight - what's your walk score?

UPDATE: Take the poll!

The specifics of the bill have yet to emerge, but that hasn't stopped Ben Nelson from saying no to a climate bill containing even a utility-only cap on emissions.

Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska said Thursday he would not support a procedural vote later this month to begin debate on a climate bill that includes a cap on electric utility emissions, a declaration that underscores the tough climb that Majority Leader Harry Reid will have in trying to cobble together a 60-vote supermajority on the controversial issue.

“A carbon tax or trade piece would significantly increase the utility rates in Nebraska for businesses, agriculture and individuals,” the Nebraska Democrat told POLITICO. “I don’t think that’s an appropriate way to go. And while I’d usually vote for a motion to proceed, this is so extraordinary, that I just can’t bring myself to do that.”

It's a recent conversion for Nelson:

In 2008, Nelson voted for the motion to proceed on an economy-wide climate bill authored by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), John Warner (R-Va.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). The procedural vote — 74-14 — included 32 Republicans who saw the floor debate as an opportunity to criticize Democrats for supporting a measure that would increase gasoline prices.

He also voted for cloture on a Boxer substitute amendment that would have capped greenhouse emissions and established a carbon trading system. So why the flip?

Steve Benen thinks back back to the health reform debate, when Nelson was opposed to the Republican effort to filibuster. At the time he said: If you don't like the bill, then why would you block your own opportunity to amend it? Why would you stop senators from doing the job they're elected to do -- debate, consider amendments, and take action on an issue affecting every American?" So as Steve says, what's his answer to his own question now? Why is he stopping Senators from doing the job they're elected to do?

Ah, Blanche. Apparently writing tough derivatives language for financial reform--throwing a bone to the real Democrats she needed to win a primary--was all a Democratic base was going to get out of her. Yet another deficit peacock, she was a lead flip-flopper on the public option, coming down eventually on the side of "we can't afford it." And she insisted upon the bill being deficit neutral.

Now comes the estate tax, where she's teaming up with Jon Kyl to "radically" cut the estate tax. Yglesias takes it from there.

It certainly isn’t deficit neutral — CBPP found that an earlier version of the Lincoln-Kyl amendment adds nearly a half-trillion dollars to the deficit over the first ten years. Big problem, right? Well, Lincoln has found a solution:

Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D., Ark.) and Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.) on Wednesday introduced a proposal to permanently set the estate tax rate at 35%. Estate wealth under $5 million would ultimately be exempted from estate taxes, but this exemption amount phases in over a 10-year period.

The phase-in is a change from legislation Kyl and Lincoln have introduced in the past and is meant to make the short-term cost of the bill appear smaller.

This framing, at least, is refreshingly candid about the cynicism and irresponsibility on display here. Journalists who take seriously future claims of deficit concerns from Kyl or Lincoln should beware Matt’s barn.

Cynicism indeed. Deficit cutting certainly isn't going to happen on the backs of Lincoln's friends. Maybe its her sop to the banksters and their heirs. She lost them on financial reform, but here's her chance to let them know that she's really their friend, the friend of all the rich people, really, so they should keep her in office. Deficit be damned.

Ah, Blanche. Apparently writing tough derivatives language for financial reform--throwing a bone to the real Democrats she needed to win a primary--was all a Democratic base was going to get out of her. Yet another deficit peacock, she was a lead flip-flopper on the public option, coming down eventually on the side of "we can't afford it." And she insisted upon the bill being deficit neutral.

Now comes the estate tax, where she's teaming up with Jon Kyl to "radically" cut the estate tax. Yglesias takes it from there.

It certainly isn’t deficit neutral — CBPP found that an earlier version of the Lincoln-Kyl amendment adds nearly a half-trillion dollars to the deficit over the first ten years. Big problem, right? Well, Lincoln has found a solution:

Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D., Ark.) and Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.) on Wednesday introduced a proposal to permanently set the estate tax rate at 35%. Estate wealth under $5 million would ultimately be exempted from estate taxes, but this exemption amount phases in over a 10-year period.

The phase-in is a change from legislation Kyl and Lincoln have introduced in the past and is meant to make the short-term cost of the bill appear smaller.

This framing, at least, is refreshingly candid about the cynicism and irresponsibility on display here. Journalists who take seriously future claims of deficit concerns from Kyl or Lincoln should beware Matt’s barn.

Cynicism indeed. Deficit cutting certainly isn't going to happen on the backs of Lincoln's friends. Maybe its her sop to the banksters and their heirs. She lost them on financial reform, but here's her chance to let them know that she's really their friend, the friend of all the rich people, really, so they should keep her in office. Deficit be damned.

Republican governor candidate Scott McInnis isn't going to let a little thing like being a serial plagiarist hold him back. No, he took to his Facebook page today, a la Sarah Palin, to declare that is "in it to win it."

He also says that now he has decided to return the $300,000 he received in payment for stealing someone else's work, that "brings this matter to a close." Yeah, somehow I don't think so.

The case just gets uglier for McInnis. At Talk Left, Jeralyn has the story of the researcher McInnis has tried to foist this off on, Rolly Fischer. Fischer granted an interview to the local ABC affiliate in which he confirmed that McInnis was lying about the scandal, and that he wasn't aware that McInnis was going to use the materials he provided for the articles McInnis was being paid to write.

The 82-year old Fischer said, "I never knew about the foundation or any foundation Scott was associated with."

"Did you know how he was using these?" Ferrugia asked.

"No. I had this sophomoric assumption that he wanted them for his own inventory," said Fischer.

Check out the letter the McInnis campaign tried to get Fischer to sign:

Dear Scott:

I am writing to express my sincere apology for failing to provide appropriate attribution for the research I provided for the water articles we collaborated on. While my mistake was not intentional, it is nonetheless clear that this material needed footnotes.

This mistake was solely my own and I recognize that my work fell short of the expectations you had when you included me in this project.

Again, please accept my deep apology.

Sincerely,

Rolly Fischer

Asking an 82 year-old water expert to take the fall for you takes about as much chutzpah as compelling the guy you shot in the face to apologize for getting in the way of your aim, but McInnis is no Dick Cheney, and Fischer won't sign.

All of which just makes McInnis look even more like a heel, leading to rumors that the Republican Governors Association "is essentially abandoning McInnis and pulling funds out of the Colorado governor's race - a claim the RGA firmly denies." Although they also say that they are committed to the Colorado race and to defeating Hickenlooper, and note that McInnis hasn't won the primary. That's a strong endorsement, huh? But the situation is a mess for Republicans.

Internally, Colorado Republicans are still considering their options - none of which are particularly appealing. Replacing McInnis on the primary ballot before Aug. 10 would face a certain legal challenge from Democrats, and would be tricky to accomplish from a public relations standpoint.

But establishment Republicans--which have essentially given up on McInnis--are concerned that if insurgent candidate Dan Maes wins the primary and is at the top of the November ticket, the trickle-down effect will be damaging for other GOP candidates in terms of voter turnout and support.

Tom Tancredo says McInnis has to go: "This is a huge disaster for the Republican party unless we can get a candidate in there to make this all work."

Tancredo noted that if the state GOP fails to put up a conservative candidate, the right wing in the state is likely to revolt. As for the other Republican on the ballot, conservative businessman Dan Maes, who has some support from wings of the Tea Party, Tancredo said he regarded a Maes win as an even greater longshot. "The [Denver] Post has more on Maes than they've ever had on McInnis... [Maes] is bad news," Tancredo said. (The Post broke the plagiarism story.)

Tancredo said he himself would be happy to step up and run as a write-in and has received some encouragement to do so--but added that he's well aware that the party elite would not want him to step forward.

Hahahahah! Tancredo to the rescue. Scarily enough, Republicans in Colorado seem to want Tancredo, Mr. Obama is the greatest threat ever to this nation to step in. Ouch.

All right gang, before we all get to party in Vegas next Saturday night, there's going to be some work to do. And that's asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid the questions that the traditional media just doesn't seem to ever get around to addressing. The Q&A with Pelosi will be bright and early Saturday, July 24, at 9:00 a.m. and the session with Reid that afternoon at 3:15.

The fabulous Cheryl Contee, of Jack and Jill Politics fame will be moderating the panel with Speaker Pelosi. You can ask your questions on Facebook and on Twitter (use the hashtag #nn10pelosi), but as long as you're here, list them below and I'll make sure Cheryl sees them.

I'll be asking Reid your questions, and am collecting them here as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

We've had a lot of submissions on jobs, the economy, the filibuster, the lack of leadership and cohesion in the Dem caucus in the Senate, immigration, campaign finance, energy . . . all the big issues. What are the burning questions that you think need to be asked?

All right gang, before we all get to party in Vegas next Saturday night, there's going to be some work to do. And that's asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid the questions that the traditional media just doesn't seem to ever get around to addressing. The Q&A with Pelosi will be bright and early Saturday, July 24, at 9:00 a.m. and the session with Reid that afternoon at 3:15.

The fabulous Cheryl Contee, of Jack and Jill Politics fame will be moderating the panel with Speaker Pelosi. You can ask your questions on Facebook and on Twitter (use the hashtag #nn10pelosi), but as long as you're here, list them below and I'll make sure Cheryl sees them.

I'll be asking Reid your questions, and am collecting them here as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

We've had a lot of submissions on jobs, the economy, the filibuster, the lack of leadership and cohesion in the Dem caucus in the Senate, immigration, campaign finance, energy . . . all the big issues. What are the burning questions that you think need to be asked?