re: #6 Aceofwhat?

No. We are somewhat proficient in measuring the pollution output of a particular activity. We can therefore tax the activity accordingly. That is far, far, far simpler than the complex process of evolving different energy technologies for different areas and different applications as efficiently as possible.

Oh, so you only want the ‘pollution’ aspect of it taxed, and not other environmental damages?

If corn biodiesel isn’t anywhere near an economically viable solution once its emissions are taxed, it won’t be adopted. No additional government intervention needed

No, you’re not getting it. Corn biodeisel is very economically viable once its emissions are taxed. It doesn’t have a bad emission profile; that’s not why its inefficient. It’s because of the emissions that are necessary to produce it; the emissions for the harvesters, combines, trucks transporting it, etc. etc. Which is actually a quite complicated calculation.

As is, for example, figuring out whether or not photovoltaic cells made with rare-earth elements— that have to be extracted using energy-intensive methods— are actually a net energy benefit.

Why do you think these calculations are simple?