The hue and cry over fossil fuel subsidies in the US is a tempest in a teapot, more a political symbol than a real source of revenue or decarbonization. The big fossil fuel subsidies are the externalities.” April 9, 2021 By Charles Komanoff Commentator David Roberts, in Biden’s tax plan goes after the little fossil fuel subsidies, but not the big ones. (Direct subsidies don’t amount to much.), April 9.