the government does several actions that lowers the cost of fossil fuel energy production; pipe lines construction and loan guarantees for refineries construction, services in remote areas allowing more people to work and live which would be more expensive. the US Export-Import Bank, or the Overseas Private Investment Corporation — all of which are supported by US tax dollars, both gave billions last year to the fossil fuel industry.
raises the prices energy producers receive; Tax Credits, Exxon had 40 billion in profit, but paid $0 taxes, subsidies to consumers; the winter heating oit subsidy. Start up costs of consumers of Carbon products, subsides for factories, Cash for Clunkers, the Auto Bail outs,
not to mention providing a police force that protects the oil fields and oil shipping lanes essentially providing free private security that oil companies don’t have to pay for except through taxes, which as we saw with Exxon, they don’t pay.
Now we can argue if this or that program is a good idea or not, but the oil companies definitely benefit from taxpayer funded programs directly and indirectly to the tune of $10 to $52 Billion during the Obama administration. and that was not counting any military spending.