Gary,
i have no problem with TB making money; I just don't think he needs a subsidy to do so. The public will benefit regardless of who funds it but handing out such "investments" is slippery slope territory for the gov't.
If he uses tax dollars to start his venture and he succeeds, will he pay back the investment with a risk premium? If he does not succeed, where is the benefit to anyone?
If option 1 is the case, then why hassle with the gov't when he could preserve the gain for himself? I suspect the reason is because he has no intention of returning a risk premium or the principal back to the gov't.
The less tangible benefits to society are not guaranteed to actually manifest.
bringing the xcel pipeline in was quite legitimate. Establishing a national infrastructure for NG fueled ground transport is a huge undertaking and will undoubtedly span many areas like the the Sand Hills. Of course, i think the Sand Hills case is just a smoke screen because there are many "environmentally sensitive" areas already transected by pipelines. I'd bet that there are 100s kms (if not 1000s kms) of oil and gas pipelines already transecting the ogallala aquifer.
look at the players in CLNE. I keep bringing up the bit about natural gas producers and stupid laws for a reason. CLNE is a way for some of those folks to get around that. Now put yourself back in 1957 and ask yourself if you would've thought it reasonable for tax payers to pay for building Texaco stations along the developing interstate system.
wikipedia has an interesting comment by J. D. Rockefeller's father:
"I cheat my boys every chance I get. I want to make ‘em sharp"
i think t-bone and friends have that line memorized and they're playing the part of JD's dad but the kids aren't learning.
regards,
Charlie
