Remarkable:

The bill is being circulated by Senator Jeff Bingaman, Democrat of New Mexico, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee and the energy bill’s lead author. Until this week, Mr. Bingaman had opposed big subsidies for coal-based fuels, saying that each new production plant would cost billions of dollars and that the economic uncertainties posed risks for taxpayers.

Your support powers solutions-focused climate reporting — keeping it free for everyone. All donations DOUBLED for a limited time. Give now in under 45 seconds.
Secure · Tax deductible · Takes 45 Seconds

Stories like this don’t tell themselves.

Make others like it possible. Your support powers solutions-focused climate reporting — keeping it free for everyone. Give now in under 45 seconds.
Secure · Tax deductible · Takes 45 Seconds

But in what could be an effort to fend off demands from coal-state lawmakers for bigger subsidies, Mr. Bingaman’s draft proposal would offer up to $10 billion in direct government loans for coal-to-liquid plants.

Unfuckingbelievable. They want to give one of the most mendacious, destructive industries in the country ten billion dollars in exchange for no discernible benefit because they’re afraid if they don’t they’ll get bullied into coughing up even more. I consider myself a reasonable man, but really, how am I supposed to react to this without cursing?

To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How