The Presidential Candidates on Energy Issues
Find out where the candidates stand on oil dependence, global warming and more.
Oct. 24, 2008
By Aubrey Vaughn
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Energy — how we make it, where we get it and how we use it — is at the center of many of today's hot issues, from foreign policy to climate change.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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All roads lead to energy. Roller coaster gas prices, rising home heating costs, uneasy foreign policy relations, chaotic financial markets, concerns about climate change … all of these issues have direct or indirect links to energy — how we make it, where we get it and how we use it. Given that the presidential election is less than two weeks away, deciphering the various energy plans and positions of the candidates has become quite literally a hot topic. So before you head to the ballot box, here’s a look at some of the key energy positions of Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.
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Drilling for Oil
McCain has said he supports offshore drilling, but opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). He also opposes taxing oil companies on windfall profits.
From Campaign Issues 2008, McCain voted:
- For oil drilling in ANWR (2000)
- Against oil drilling in ANWR (2002)
- For banning drilling in ANWR (2005)
- Against reducing oil usage by 40 percent by 2025 (2005)
Obama has said he opposes lifting the ban on new offshore drilling, but that he would accept offshore drilling if it’s necessary for enacting a comprehensive energy plan. He opposes drilling in ANWR, and supports a tax on windfall oil profits. He says that he will require oil companies to develop the land that they are currently leasing but not yet using for drilling (i.e., “use it or lose it.”).
Obama’s voting record from Campaign Issues 2008:
- Obama voted for banning drilling in ANWR (2005)
- For reducing oil usage by 40 percent by 2025 (2005)
- For removing oil and gas exploration subsidies (2007)
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The candidates agree that greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and both propose mandatory cap-and-trade systems to reduce carbon emissions. John McCain’s plan calls to reduce emissions to 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, suggesting that “an increasing fraction of permits for emissions could be supplied by auction.” Barack Obama’s plan includes a reduction to 80 percent below 1990 levels in the same time frame, calling for 100 percent of permits for emissions to be purchased via auction.
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