Coal subsidies sought

Here's a link to the Register's editorial on the active search in Washington for subsidies for liquid fuel made from coal. It turns out the coal industry has ramped up its lobbying (and spending) and is seeking to have such subsidies -- loan guarantees for $3 -5 billion new plants, 51-cent-a-gallon price subsidies, guaranteed high prices -- included in energy bills Congress will almost certainly consider this summer. It may seem ironic to subsidize coal while states like California are trying to outlaw it in the name of reducing carbon emissions and everybody is screaming about carbon dioxide and global warming, but don't be surprised if these egregious subsidies get enacted.