The collapse of Solyndra solar a while ago focused much attention on the cost of so-called renewable energy. But according to James Rust of the Heartland Institute, subsidies for solar are just the tip of the expensive renewables iceberg. Rust points out that one subsidy for corn ethanol is 45 cents per gallon, with the feds mandating 35 billion gallons of ethanol use within a decade. Plug in electric cars like the Leaf and Volt often get state and federal subsidies topping 10 grand per car, even though their energy requirement equals roughly 22 to 27 miles per gallon – far less than conventional small cars that cost half as much. Many wonder if it’s time to pull the plug on such expensive renewable subsidies.