Elon Musk's growing empire is fueled by $4.9 billion in government subsidies

[burfordTjustice]

Los Angeles entrepreneur Elon Musk has built a multibillion-dollar fortune running companies that make electric cars, sell solar panels and launch rockets into space.

And he's built those companies with the help of billions in government subsidies.

Tesla Motors Inc., SolarCity Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, together have benefited from an estimated $4.9 billion in government support, according to data compiled by The Times. The figure underscores a common theme running through his emerging empire: a public-private financing model underpinning long-shot start-ups.

"He definitely goes where there is government money," said Dan Dolev, an analyst at Jefferies Equity Research. "That's a great strategy, but the government will cut you off one day."

[NotMe]

[gfretwell]

When oil gets up to around $200 a barrel, solar will be economically viable without massive tax payer subsidy. There are viable solar applications now but they are generally off grid electric or heating water (pools, spas and domestic use). In some desert areas solar passive home heating is a thing. Other things that work now are methane capture from land fills, wind in a few select areas and "waste to energy" plants. In my county the W2E plant can produce electricity, delivered 40 miles away, for about 5 cents a KWH.

[NotMe]

Ask yourself is someone with the business model of Solarcity the one to build it? Espicially if, in the process, the industry gets a serious black eye?

[Mo Power]

And when the last drop of oil is sucked out of the ground and lines at the gas station are 3 miles long, what do we do if no one has developed solar technology?

And if you have a better idea, STFU and start building it.