In the News

Should Taxpayers Back Reactors?

Supporters call it smart energy policy. Critics have dubbed it "Solyndra on steroids." An energy bill that President Bush signed into law...

The Next Solyndra? $8 Billion U.S. Loan Guarantee for Nuke Reactors Too Risky

Think what you want about nuclear power. Maybe it’s the best way to generate electricity, and maybe it’s the worst. If you are a taxpayer,...

Mini-nuclear plants the next frontier of US power supply—or the next Solyndra?

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com A boon to the economy? Or a boondoggle? That's the debate raging over a new nuclear technology...

The Fair Act of 2013

Alexander interview July 23, 2013 The Fair Act of 2013, a bill sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), would establish a partnership...

Landrieu disappointed at Obama administration

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu said Tuesday it was tragic that the Obama administration opposed legislation that would generate...

Lack of revenue bill support criticized

WASHINGTON - Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska slammed the Obama administration Tuesday for opposing their...

The FAIR Act Is Bad Fiscal Policy

Today I am in the Senate testifying before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on proposed legislation to shift some of the federal...

U.S. House rejects bid to kill Piketon project

WASHINGTON — The House yesterday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to strip $48 million from a proposed uranium centrifuge in Piketon, Ohio...

Vogtle reactors mean more clean energy

The City of Calhoun Electric Utilities receives the majority of its power from nuclear power. During the city council meeting on Monday,...

House could vote on Piketon project money as soon as tonight

The U.S. House could vote as soon as later tonight on an amendment that would strip USEC of federal dollars. An amendment by Rep. Michael...

Congress’ Latest Ridiculous Investment

Today's post is a bad news/good news story. The bad news is that deep in the fiscal year 2014 Energy and Water Development Appropriations...

Are drivers of electric cars saints or freeloaders?

Are drivers of electric and hybrid cars saints who reduce fuel use, emissions and global warming? Or are they freeloaders who...

Federal loan guarantee offer for Vogtle expansion extended again

The owners of Plant Vogtle have secured – for the third time – an extension to allow further negotiation with the U.S. Energy Department...

Another Toubled Department of Energy Loan Guarantee

Spectacular failure made Solyndra a household name and highlighted failures in the Department of Energy's loan guarantee program. Since...

Nuclear Power, Part 2: Nukenomics

Can the nuclear industry stand on its own two feet financially? It all depends on whom you ask. "There are plenty of cost estimates out...

Republican bill would limit environmental reviews of offshore drilling

The federal government would be forced to make decisions on offshore drilling before fully scrutinizing how the work would affect coral and...

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate dives into ocean research — a James Cameron production

TUESDAY’S AGENDA: Film director James Cameron will advocate for ocean research during a Tuesday Senate hearing. The legendary filmmaker...

Alan Grayson says bill clearing way for Keystone XL pipeline is an earmark

Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., called a bill to advance the Keystone XL pipeline an earmark. Is it? Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., recently took...

The Farm Bill Trough Is Opening Again

Sooey! That old-fashioned farmer's call, meant to summon hogs to the trough, is also an appropriate warning signal for taxpayers and...

Shelby provision in water bill would benefit state docks

WASHINGTON — Ports that move large amounts of energy resources, including the Port of Mobile, would share a new pot of federal money to...

The long-term effects of corn ethanol subsidies

On Tuesday, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved a massive five-year farm bill. It would cut spending but also create new subsidies for...

Taxpayers Feel the Pain of Washington Arm-Twisting

Ever wonder why the federal budget is so hard to tame? Sure, there are philosophical differences, with conservatives pushing for reductions...

Landlords Double as Energy Brokers

The trophy high-rises on Madison, Park and Fifth Avenues in Manhattan have long commanded the top prices in the country for commercial real...

New oil shale decision avoids mistakes of the past

Who hasn’t heard the old saying “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it?” That often-quoted adage was written by 19th...

TCS: FAA budget transfer a “gimmick”

  On Tuesday, President Obama held a wide-ranging White House news conference. He addressed Syria, the Boston Bombings, and Guantanamo...

Facing Dilemma, Oil Industry Stays Neutral On Tax Parity For Renewables

The oil and gas industry is, for now, staying neutral on just-introduced legislation extending favorable tax treatment the fossil fuel...

When Renewable Energy Shoots Itself In The Foot

It isn’t often that a new renewable energy project can be called a bad thing for renewable energy, but such is the case in Ann Arbor, Mich.,...

Held up by MOX(y)

Sometimes, even in Congress, one can overplay one’s hand protecting turf. Consider the South Carolina delegation’s sharp objection to...

Experts: Coming debate will lay building blocks on energy taxes

A panel of experts expressed pessimism Wednesday that lawmakers can tackle broad-based tax reform this Congress, but they stressed that the...

Pro Deep Dive: The Energy Sector and the Implications of Tax Policy

FOR VIDEO OF THIS EVENT, CLICK HERE Join the POLITICO Pro Energy team for a look at how potential tax policies and the 2014 budget will...

Obama’s proposed spending on small modular reactors criticized from 2 sides

A modest increase in spending for the U.S. Department of Energy's program to promote small modular nuclear reactors found in President...

Political role reversal on the Tennessee Valley Authority

Some Republican lawmakers are criticizing President Obama for suggesting the government consider selling the Tennessee Valley Authority....

Letter: Reasonable ideas for cutting deficit

Reasonable Americans understand that reducing the federal deficit will require a combination of spending cuts and increases in...

Plenty to love, loathe in Obama’s 2014 budget

Congressional Republicans and Democrats began voicing their displeasure over U.S. President Obama's 2014 budget plan, saying it didn't go...

Westinghouse Electric Co. sets sights on federal funds

Westinghouse Electric Co. plans to apply again for a federal program designed to help fund the development of mini-sized nuclear reactor...

TVA, B&W poised to put small modular reactors to the test

TVA is teaming with Babcock & Wilcox on a project that may produce the nation’s first operational small modular reactor. The potential of...

Report: Southeast U.S. Ratepayers Will Be Gouged For Billions Of Dollars In Excess Costs If Nuclear Reactor Projects Proceed

New Study Focuses on "Uneconomical" Reactor Projects in FL, SC, and GA Financed by "Advance Cost Recovery" Schemes; Lessons Seen for IA, UT,...

Energy opens second round for small modular reactor funding

The Energy Department on Monday announced a second round of funding for small modular nuclear reactors development through a program that...

George Shultz Says Climate Change Urgent, Calls for Carbon Tax

WASHINGTON—Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz called for action on climate change March 8, saying the United States should end...

Watchdog group upset with nuke reactor funding

A budget watchdog group is criticizing a federal government program that provides federal funds to companies such as Westinghouse Electric...

Energy Department investment in SMRs wins Golden Fleece

One year ago, the Obama administration committed nearly half-a-billion dollars to develop small modular reactors (or SMRs). The goal:...

Repealing oil industry tax subsidies would be good for taxpayers

Former Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.) served up the usual field-tested oil industry talking points last week. The Hill readers may have been...

Obama push for modular reactors a ‘ripoff’—taxpayer watchdog

A nonpartisan watchdog group has dubbed the Obama administration's effort to develop small, modular reactors a "taxpayer...

Watchdog group: DOE support for small modular reactors is ‘fleecing’ taxpayers

The U.S. Department of Energy's program to award developers of small modular nuclear reactors with funds to bring this new type of reactor...

Mini Nuclear Reactors Earn Golden Fleece Award For Government Waste

Are mini nuclear reactors the future of high-end energy development — or a wasteful government boondoggle? While it may or may not be...

Small modular reactor program to get ‘Golden Fleece’ award

A watchdog group plans Wednesday to call federal spending on small nuclear reactors a "major ripoff for taxpayers." Taxpayers for Common...

Nuclear program wins ‘Golden Fleece’ award

The federal government's move toward small modular nuclear reactors is getting panned by a taxpayers' group. Taxpayers for Common Sense...

U.S. offering $450M to support fledgling nuclear technology

A federal program intended to kickstart the much-anticipated development of bite-sized nuclear reactors at Westinghouse Electric Co. and...

Group gives ‘Golden Fleece’ award to DOE

The new and smaller nuclear plant design being pursued by the Tennessee Valley Authority was denounced by a taxpayer advocacy group...

Organization Calls Foul on DOE’s Small Reactor Program

The Taxpayers for Common Sense, a non-partisan budget watchdog organization based in Washington, has given its annual "Golden Fleece Award"...

Portable reactor program given ‘Golden Fleece’ award

A national watchdog group Wednesday bestowed its “Golden Fleece Award” for wasted taxpayer funds to the government’s small modular reactor...

Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Win the Golden Fleece Award

As management at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has been pushing the idea that speculative “small modular reactors” (SMRs) will be the...

Waste-Busting “Golden Fleece Award” To Go To Small Modular Reactors

Award to Focus Attention on Federal Tax Dollars Being Lavished on Unproven Nuclear Reactor Technology Developed By Profitable Global...

Congress listening more to Renewable Fuel Standard opponents

Thomas Elam has made his voice heard as the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard is in the midst of a 45-day...

TCS: Trim the farm bill and cut oil subsidies

This month, 13 groups sent a letter to Congress identifying budget savings worth $100 billion over the next decade. They would draw from the...

Controversial motor fuel with more ethanol raises concerns

Although some motorists might not realize it, the gasoline they’re putting into their vehicles is 10 percent ethanol. Since 2010 Florida...

Hill Briefing Shreds Renewable Fuel Standard

This morning I attended a briefing on “The Renewable Fuel Standard: Pitfalls, Challenges, and the Need for Congressional Action in 2013.”...

Fiscal reform needs accountability, less agency overlap

Government fiscal reform needs to come in the form of accountability, prioritizing by need and training if long term success is to be seen,...

USEC under Obama 2.0 - in the race for state guarantees

(Translated from original text) Changes in the top echelons of the U.S. government related to the beginning of the second term of...

NMMA makes case to Congress on fuel standard

The National Marine Manufacturers Association made its case with several other groups Tuesday to federal lawmakers on the negative impact of...

Common Sense Ways to Reduce Wasteful Federal Spending

This article is part of a weekly series held by U.S. News and it's Economic Intelligence blog....

Budget Cutters Eye Nuclear Reprocessing Plant

Given the threat of sequester, supporters of a $4.8 billion mixed oxide fuel fabrication facility worry that the Obama administration may be...

Cost Overruns Plague Energy Department Projects

The Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, known as MOX, isn’t the only high-profile project by the Energy Department’s National Nuclear...

Ag Economist Urges Congress to Begin Extensive Reform of RFS

"The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is broken, but Congress can fix the rule by acting now and opening an inclusive, robust debate that leads...

Coalition seeks fuel standard repeal through legislation

A coalition of groups seeking to reform or repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates the use of biofuels such as ethanol, is...

Congress Urged to Begin Extensive Reform of RFS

US - "The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is broken, but Congress can fix the rule by acting now and opening an inclusive, robust debate that...

Strange bedfellows unite for Hill fight over renewable fuels policy

A strange-bedfellow coalition of environmentalists, hunger advocates, oil refiners and boat manufacturers is taking to Capitol Hill to push...

AGRIBUSINESS: RFS opponents launch new Hill campaign

  A coalition of opponents of the Renewable Fuel Standard held a telephone news conference today to announce they are launching a new...

Ethanol slowdown not enough, say mandate critics

Never in the history of corn-based ethanol have so many Nebraska ethanol plants been idle. “This would be the largest drop we’ve ever...

Ohio nuclear centrifuge project uncertain

WASHINGTON — As the 113th Congress gets under way and President Barack Obama begins a second term, some possible shifts in federal energy...

Strange bedfellows unite to bash RFS

The country’s Renewable Fuel Standard has done something few things in Washington can: bring together a diverse set of interests for a...

Unusual allies fight renewable fuel standard

Humanitarians, environmentalists, farmers’ advocates and refiners on Monday came together to demand changes to a renewable fuel mandate they...

Sen. Murkowski backs calls to reevaluate biofuel mandate

The Senate Energy Committee’s top Republican said Monday that she is “in good company” with congressional calls to reevaluate a...

ACE responds to Big Oil’s ethanol, RFS criticism

The Environmental Working Group joined a variety of other organizations today to call for the reform of the renewable fuel standard (RFS),...

Fate of Piketon plant murky

WASHINGTON — As the 113th Congress gets under way and President Barack Obama begins a second term, some possible shifts in federal energy...

Stand Up for the RFS; Don’t Forget to Comment

The petroleum industry is continuing its campaign to dismantle and repeal the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The Environmental Working...

In ‘fiscal cliff’ bill, White House was key to corporate tax breaks

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - As the U.S. Congress rushed last week to approve a "fiscal cliff" tax bill that raised income taxes on the...

Fiscal Cliff Winner: Tax Breaks for Oil and Gas Industries

The fiscal cliff deal reached in Washington proved to be a winner for the oil and gas industry on two counts. First and foremost, the...

5 Countries On The Naughty List For Dirty Energy

We’re making a list, we’re checking it twice… No, this list isn’t about whose wish will be fulfilled on December 25th. Instead, it’s a...

Report: No Future in Oil Shale, Utah’s “Rock That Burns”

VERNAL, Utah - It isn't working out and it's costing taxpayers money. Those are two reasons a congressional watchdog group opposes oil shale...

Group Says Billions of Dollars Risked on Oil Shale Speculation

The nonpartisan budget watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense reported this week that billions of taxpayer dollars have been risked over...

Hall Bill to Create Millions in New Taxpayer Handouts for Oil Shale Just as Taxpayer Report Finds that Billions Already Risked on Failed Experiments

Last month, Representative Ralph Hall (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 6603) to create $50 million in new taxpayer-funded handouts for oil...

Subsidies for Oil Shale Development: Billion-Dollar Boondoggle?

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - As Congress looks to avoid the looming "fiscal cliff," opponents of a proposal recently introduced in Congress (H.R....

Will Big Oil Keep Its Subsidies in a Fiscal Cliff Deal?

America's most profitable industry banks billions in subsidies—but there's little talk in Washington of putting these handouts on the chopping block. ...

Watchdog group opposes $50 million oil shale subsidy

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan budget watchdog group, is protesting a Texas congressman's proposal to...

About to run aground on EPA rules, coal-fired ferry seeks to rewrite the law

When is an earmark not really an earmark? A fresh bit of Congressional finagling raises that question in regard to yet another...

Snake-Oil Deficit Savings

Like things you spot in your side-view mirror, many of the budget numbers flitting around the debt talks are larger than they appear....

Asia coal export boom brings no bonus for U.S. taxpayers

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. miners who are booking big profits on coal sales to Asia are enjoying an accounting windfall to boot. By...

Coloradans speak out against subsidizing oil shale

Grand Junction, Colo. (KKCO) – People in Colorado are speaking out at a house science subcommittee meeting in Washington D.C. on...

Worse Than Solyndra!

Remember how the failure of solar-panel manufacturer Solyndra, which had received $535 million in federal loan guarantees, supposedly showed...

Taxpayer group irked by GOP plan to subsidize oil shale research

DENVER — A Texas Republican’s proposal to subsidize research on developing oil from oil shale is prompting objections from taxpayer...

Report calls out oil shale subsidies

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation that will hand out $50 million of increased subsidies...

Study: Taxes Paid for Failed Oil Shale Subsidies

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- A nonpartisan taxpayer group says their new study brings to light just how many failed oil shale experiments were...

Watchdog group opposes oil shale research subsidy

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — A national government watchdog organization wants to put an end to subsidies for research and development of...

Taxpayers group urges Salazar to ditch Bush-era royalty

A new report urges the Interior Department to scrap a George W. Bush administration policy designed to subsidize the development of oil...

Oil Shale Subsidy Called a Boondoggle by Taxpayer Watchdog

 A federal subsidy that would funnel $50 million to the oil-shale-development industry -- which is still not commercially viable, and may...

Taxpayers for Common Sense slams oil shale subsidies

WASHINGTON — A new report by a nonpartisan taxpayer advocacy group is calling for the end of subsidies for oil shale development, saying...

Oil shale bill rankles taxpayer advocacy group

DENVER—A taxpayer advocacy group is objecting to a Texas Republican's proposal to subsidize research on developing oil from oil...

Navajos ban uranium mining

Navajos (Dinés) who have lost family members from radioactive contamination – and those fighting new proposals for uranium development –...

Eighty-Eight to Congress: ‘Let the Wind PTC Expire!’ (challenging Big Wind, Big Government, and Big Environmentalism)

“The PTC was created in 1992 to get the wind industry off the ground. Yet 20 years later, we have little to show for it.” When it comes to...

Hot ETFs for the presidential election

By John Nyaradi Next week’s presidential election will impact sectors and exchange-traded funds regardless of who wins. Here’s your guide...

Group’s goal is to curb harmful, wasteful spending

Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2012 Dear EarthTalk: What is the "Green Scissors" campaign, which I understand can help the environment and has...

U.S can’t afford giveaways for mining, oil companies

U.S can't afford giveaways for mining, oil companies Written by Ryan Alexander    Thursday, 04 October 2012 14:51 When you're in a...

You can reduce the deficit without touching entitlements. But that won’t make it more popular.

You can reduce the deficit without touching entitlements. But that won’t make it more popular. The Washington Post Posted by Suzy Khimm...

Ryan Alexander, Taxpayers for Common Sense, discusses how the U.S. could avoid the fiscal cliff with cuts almost twice the size of sequestration.

How to Avoid Fiscal Cliff With Less Pain CNBC Mon 01 Oct 12 | 04:50 PM ET Ryan Alexander, Taxpayers for Common Sense, discusses how the...

How to cut $2 trillion, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense

How to cut $2 trillion, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense Washington Business Journal Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 6:20am...

Fiscal Cliff: Candidates Fiddle While America Does a Slow Burn

Fiscal Cliff: Candidates Fiddle While America Does a Slow Burn October 2, 2012   “Continued split government is just one reason to...

Large energy cuts can help avoid sequestration

Report: Large energy cuts can help avoid sequestration By Zack Colman - 10/01/12 01:06 PM ET   A spending watchdog group said Monday...

Taxpayer group maps out an escape plan for 2013’s ‘fiscal cliff’

Taxpayer group maps out an escape plan for 2013's 'fiscal cliff' By Erik Wasson - 10/01/12 12:42 PM ET   The nonpartisan Taxpayers for...

US group urges $2 trillion alternative to fiscal cliff “time bomb”

US  group urges 2 trillion altenative to fiscal cliff "time bomb" By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON | Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:55pm EDT (Reuters)...

Carbon tax would halve deficit in 10 years

Carbon tax would halve deficit in 10 years Jean Chemnick, E&E reporter Greenwire: Wednesday, September 26, 2012   A report by the...

Bipartisan “Green Scissors” Campaign Aims to Save the Environment—and Taxpayer Dollars

By Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss Dear EarthTalk: What is the “Green Scissors” campaign, which I understand can help the environment and has...

‘No More Solyndras Act’ Takes a Beating from All Sides (US News)

Solyndra has long been a favorite buzzword of Republicans looking to criticize the Obama administration for everything from irresponsible use of taxpayer money to an energy policy that plays favorites....

Groups: Flawed “No More Solyndras Act” Would Still Leave Taxpayers At Risk Of Costly Energy Boondoggle Defaults (PR Newswire)

Taxpayers for Common Sense, Heritage Foundation, National Taxpayers Union, and Competitive Enterprise Institute Outline Troubled Projects...

Green Scissors for Congress

When you’re in a hole, you stop digging. And when you’ve got a $1.3-trillion deficit and $15.7 trillion in debt, you’ve got to start...

Greening the Federal Budget - and Saving a Bundle

June 27, 2012 -- A leading environmental group, a centrist taxpayer watchdog and a libertarian small-government think tank on Tuesday...

With An Uninterested Private Sector, Federal Loans May Be Only Option For DKRW (Wyoming Public Radio)

By Tristan Ahtone Listen to the story DKRW’s proposal to build a coal-to-liquids plant in Medicine Bow may provide jobs and tax revenue...

TCS President Ryan Alexander Letter to the Editor—Energy Subsidies: “No Giveaways”

In "Natural gas better for economy, environment" (May 20 Opinion), T. Boone Pickens tried to justify new subsidies for natural gas while...

OP-ED: MCMAHON & ALEXANDER: Corn pork in the tax bill

Ethanol funds don't help farmers or the environment A handful of farm-state senators were once again able to funnel ethanol subsidies to...

Federal workers may not see pay raises for two years (Markeplace - Radio)

Washington is going to have to make some hard decisions to bring the deficit down. Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genzer takes a look at the...

Inland lawmaker blasts spending, eyes return to committee helm (The Press-Enterprise)

 Facing the threat of a possible government shutdown, Democrats on Tuesday ceded to GOP demands that billions of dollars in extra funding...

Fiorina unveils plan to cut spending (San Francisco Chronicle)

 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina on Monday proposed a wide-ranging plan to rein in Washington's spending — ranging from a...

Republican Party’s ‘Pledge to America’ is a big disappointment (Kansas City Star)

 Maybe it was appropriate that leaders of the Republican Party gathered at a Virginia hardware store to unveil their “Pledge to America.”...

Bad Reactors

Seven years ago, Finland was faced with a daunting energy dilemma. To keep its domestic industries up and running, it needed to double its...

Your Government at Work (CNN News)

  Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ms. Ryan Alexander appears on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight to discuss the activities of the 110th...

Syria: Excuse 535 To Not Cut the Deficit

Volume XVIII No. 37 Possible action in Syria has become the most recent excuse du jour for Pentagon boosters...