Environment & Energy
In reply to the discussion: "The battle of the energy titans comes down to one great contest: nuclear vs. coal." [View all]wtmusic
(39,166 posts)"These overly-generous subsidies are one reason that electricity rates in the Netherlands are more than US $0.25 per kilowatt hourmore than double the $0.106 average retail price per kilowatt hour in the United States.
One problem with the Netherlands generous subsidies is that both electricity customers and taxpayers end up paying for them through higher rates and higher taxes. Because the costs have grown so great, the Dutch government is working to transfer the cost of the subsidies directly to electricity customers through higher electricity rates. Even though rates are already high in the Netherlands, they will increase even more to pay for the wind subsidies.
With such lavish subsidies are driving up the cost of electricity, it is understandable that the Duke of Edinburgh this weekend called wind power a fairy tale and an absolute disgrace. English energy customers, like Dutch customers, are seeing their electricity bills rise thanks to taxes used to pay for more wind subsidies. Last year electricity customers in England paid an average of £90 (US $143) a year to subsidize wind farms and other renewable producers.
The wind industry claims that wind is now cost competitive with natural gas. The Dutch experience suggests otherwise. If wind were cost competitive, it wouldnt need subsidies and special favors in Europe or the United States."
http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2011/11/21/tilting-at-windmills-the-dutch-government-pays-wind-subsidies-of-370-per-dutch-resident/
Just industrial users, huh?