Last week, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced his energy platform, which emphasizes the goal of U.S. energy independence through increased offshore drilling, particularly in the mid-Atlantic, an “energy partnership” with Mexico and Canada, and through greater control over energy production on federal lands for states. “States are far better able to develop, adopt and enforce regulations based on their unique resources, geology and local concerns,” said Romney. Enacting these policies would lead to over $1 trillion in revenue for federal, state, and local governments, more than 3 million new jobs, and a resurgence in U.S. manufacturing, according to the candidate.
The energy policies outlined in Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) budget plan, “The Path to Prosperity,” resemble his running mate’s platform. Ryan’s plan, The Hill reports, “promotes longtime GOP energy priorities, including greatly expanding dome oil-and-gas production and rolling back environmental regulations.” His budget calls for “market -based solutions for sustainable energy,” reducing funding for applied and commercial research, and leaving project development to the private sector.
Democrats and environmental groups have come out against the candidates’ energy policies. Michael E. Webber, associate director of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Texas at Austin, warns against Romney’s plan to turn energy production on federal lands over to states, explaining that “local decision makers could inhibit production that could be against the national interest or could encourage production that could pollute waters or air in another state.”
In a New York Times op-ed, Robert B. Semple Jr. takes issue with candidate Romney’s emphasis on energy independence, noting that “Presidents have been talking about energy independence since Richard Nixon and haven’t come close.”
In a recent memo Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, lambasted Ryan and his plan for cutting DOE loan programs that “have helped support over 60,000 jobs.” Waxman criticized Ryan’s plan as an attempt to derail efforts to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy development, while retaining billions in fossil fuel-industry subsidies and tax breaks.
What’s your take on Romney and Ryan’s energy platforms? Is the vision they’re outlining the right vision for American energy? How does Romney’s energy platform match up against the status quo?
It is a domestic oil production expansion plan, which should be part of a national energy plan, not a stand-alone plan. Building policy based on a plan to go all… Read more »
Global volatility can be mitigated with increasing domestic supply and makes sense regardless of one’s political leanings. Transitioning to the next source of energy, be that wiind, solar, fuel cell,… Read more »
I very much agree that there needs to be consistency beyond election seasons. “Give industry a level playing field that doesn’t change every four years and progress will continue to… Read more »
As I’ve argued elsewhere, energy independence is more or less a patriotic fantasy – it sounds great, but conveniently supposes global energy demand is only partially existent; it is there… Read more »
Romney has joined the ‘politicians’ knee-jerk energy society’ like every other Politian before him with no cognitive thought directed at planning, impacts, consequences, or our legacy. I agree with Elias… Read more »
It may be more of a policy outline than a plan, but that’s about par for a political campaign. That Romney has broadened the context of energy security to North… Read more »
As others have alluded, it isn’t an energy plan. It is a political marketing vehicle meant to say very little while using quotes picked from what others have written. The… Read more »
I dont think either Governor Romney or the President has put forth a solid energy policy. Both their speeches and papers read as a collection of programs in search of… Read more »
Once again, Marshall, you’ve hit the nail precisely on its head. The elephant in both parties’ energy living rooms is the lack of comment on what James Woolsey has called… Read more »
The Romney Energy Plan is tilted towards fossil fuels to draw a distinction from Obama’s support for renewable energy and a marked change in emphasis from when he was MA… Read more »