21 Jan 2026 8:47 am
Cannonpointer » 21 Jan 2026, 9:25 am » wrote: ↑ That is why I "missed" it. Because it's MOSTLY ****.
But more to the point, I missed nothing. I simply asked for your numbers, on which you are now hedging a tad.
I would just remind you that I didn't toss this claim out there. I merely axed forclarification.
Let's quantify THOSE.
Tp heckwith those guys. I wanna know what the smart fellas from Davo are saying. Give me the REAL facts.
So... you don't wanna talk about the "externals" because they're **** (here's a link, though), and you have not addressed the direct subsidies at all. And that is also understandable. I strongly suspect that even though we will likely agree on the concept of subsidies, we will have some friction on the concept of "direct."
I called BS.I renew my call.
I don't have the numbers, you don't have the numbers, so let's argue over the numbers we don't have.A quick AI search brings up these direct subsidies:
Direct subsidies to Big Oil in the U.S. primarily involve significant tax breaks (like for enhanced oil recovery, marginal wells, and faster depreciation) and favorable access to public lands via low royalty rates, alongside federal financing/loan guarantees, and R&D funding for extraction technologies, totaling tens of billions annually, though figures vary by source and definition, with reports from Oil Change International citing around $34.8 billion yearly, notes Oil Change International, Oil Change International.
Here's a breakdown of common direct subsidies:
Tax ProvisionsEnhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Credit: A 15% tax credit for costs associated with EOR projects, though often phased out at higher prices, notes Cato Institute.
Marginal Well Credit: A per-unit credit for low-production wells, also subject to price-based phase-outs, notes Cato Institute.
Accelerated Depreciation: Allowing faster write-offs for certain infrastructure, like natural gas distribution lines, notes NRDC.
Federal Land & Resource AccessRoyalty Relief on Federal Lands: Reductions or waivers of royalties companies pay for drilling on public lands, notes FracTracker Alliance.
Below-Market Leasing: Offering leases for oil and gas exploration on public lands at rates lower than market value, notes Oil Change International.
Financial & R&D SupportLow-Interest Loans & Guarantees: Providing favorable financing or government-backed guarantees for fossil fuel projects, notes FracTracker Alliance.
Research & Development Funding: Direct federal funding for technologies to improve fossil fuel extraction, notes FracTracker Alliance.
Other
SupportCarbon Capture & Sequestration (CCS) Credits: Tax credits (like the 45Q credit) for capturing and storing CO2, which often benefits oil and gas operations, notes Cato Institute.
Key Reports & FiguresOil Change International (2025): Estimates $34.8 billion annually, including new additions by Congress.
FracTracker Alliance (2025): Highlights royalty relief, loans, R&D, and below-market leases as key direct supports.
Brookings Institution: Notes direct subsidies for oil and gas, with EESI reporting $20 billion/year, 80% to oil/gas, notes EESI https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-fossil