The goal was to make wind politically "toxic,"...

[badtoworse]

80. Let's agree on what is and is not a subsidy

Tax deductions for operating expenses, depreciation and amortizations, interest and operating losses are not subsidies in my opinion. Foreign tax credits and deductions for royalties paid to foreign governments are not subsidies either. These provisions of the tax law that are available to all businesses, including wind, and are not unique to oil and gas.

Things I would consider a subsidy are payments or credits by the government to reduce the cost of developing or producing something. Examples would include direct grants, low interest loans, loan guarantees and tax credits tied to investment or production. In recent years, renewables havehad a number of subsidies such as investment and production tax credits and Section 1603 grants. Additionally substantial DOE loan guarantees have gone to renewable projects (and a number of these have gone sour leaving taxpayers on the hook).

Here is a link to a study that details how subsidies have been divided between various generating technologies. Renewable have gotten the largest peice of the pie by quite a margin.

http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2011/08/03/eia-releases-new-subsidy-report-subsidies-for-renewables-increase-186-percent