On the other hand, the renewable "businessman" doesn’t have to pay for the entire investment from his own resources because a second privilege ensures it is partially subsidized with taxpayer money. This entire scheme would be in trouble if it weren’t for a third privilege that forces the closest distributor to buy electricity from these dubious "clean" energy producers.

All these subsidies and coercive actions are not enough to satisfy the insatiable appetite of those who feel they have a right to society's resources in their quest to turn a barely profitable business into a personal gold mine.  The new aristocrats also argue they have the right to public financing to develop their inefficient production systems.

This is why the European Commission’s refusal to accept the proposal (which the European Parliament accepted) that two-thirds of European non-nuclear energy research funds be deposited in their pockets upset them a great deal. In Spain, renewables represented 22.2 percent of total energy production in 2005. In other words, despite producing less than a third of non-nuclear energy after getting every conceivable financial support, they complain about not receiving two-thirds of the equally inexcusable public funds for energy research.

Their defense could not be more ridiculous. First, they claim this money is necessary to ensure Europe remains the leading producer of renewable energy. Come on. Without gigantic renewable energy subsidies they can't advance and support themselves. And, worse, why should the EU want to be the leader in producing inefficient energy?

Next, they argue this stream of money, snatched away from the productive sectors of society is necessary for the EU to comply with the Lisbon Agenda. In short, their contention is whether or not Europe becomes the most dynamic and fastest growing market in the world depends on subsidizing inefficient forms of production.

Finally, they allege all this money, to which they believe they have a right, will help guarantee a secure energy supply. They want us to believe that installing electric plants that depend, in general, on meteorological conditions will lead to a more secure supply of energy. A new record for electricity demand in Spain was set on July 17, 2006. Oddly enough, wind-power only amounted to an trifling 1.5 percent of production. Is this what they call production security? More than three arguments, they sound like three awful jokes.

This is how, at the same time Spain set its record demand for electricity, companies forming the European renewable energy lobby met to demand another 226 million Euros a year for research. Nothing like having special privileges:  you start by asking for a "little push" and end up believing you have a systematic and almost absolute right to other people’s property.