Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

The Future of American Energy Policy

Finding middle ground in the battle between drillers and renewers

May 13, 2011

A. Barton Hinkle

Given the red-team/blue-team dynamic of American politics, it was probably inevitable that discussion of energy policy would degenerate into a debate between drillers and renewers - between those who want more domestic oil exploration to the exclusion of other power sources, and those who want the U.S. to kick its petroleum habit entirely. But as A. Barton Hinkle argues, both sides are being unrealistic.

Let Ethanol Subsidies Die

A policy that free marketeers and militant greens can agree on

November 16, 2010

Ronald Bailey

It’s a very rare occasion when a free marketeer like me agrees with the green fanatics over at Friends of the Earth, but they are right about one thing: It's time to let ethanol subsidies die.

The Bioethanol Binge

Fuel made from corn is expensive, inefficient—and undrinkable.

September 21, 2010

Ronald Bailey

Last year, U.S. ethanol makers produced 11 billion gallons of the corn-based biofuel encouraged by $6 billion in federal tax credits. Reason Science Correspondent Ronald Bailey, after a visit to a South Dakota bioethanol plant, finds the subsidies unpalatable. He also discovers that he wouldn't want to drink the stuff.

Spring Madness on Global Warming

May 5, 2009, 5:40pm

Shikha Dalmia

No Biofuels Bailout

Farm energy pork wastes money and harms the environment

January 13, 2009

Ronald Bailey

If Congress decides that greenhouse gases are a big problem, it should stop trying to pick energy technology "winners" by subsidizing favored sectors, and instead end all subsidies and put all energy technologies on a level playing field. Congress should then set a price on carbon dioxide, and let the most affordable and most efficient energy technology win—be it wind, solar, clean coal, nuclear, or whatever.

Ethanol Subsidies Cost Taxpayers $8 Billion This Year

New Reason.tv video examines the financial and environmental costs of ethanol

August 11, 2008

Politicians are going crazy for ethanol, touting it as a cure-all that will reduce both pollution and our dependence on foreign oil. But a new Reason.tv video shows ethanol subsidies are costing taxpayers a massive $8 billion this year and that as much as 60 percent of the increase in world food prices can be blamed on biofuel subsidies.

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