Seacoast NRG

[Note: corrections added for Giuliani’s entry, 12/1/07]

This is a sister posting to my summary of the Democratic candidates’ energy and climate change plans.  The election is now less than a year away, and the New Hampshire Primary will be here in January.  Over four months have passed since I last reviewed the Republican candidates positions on energy and climate change, and it’s time for a refresher.

To find out where the candidates stand on the issues of energy and climate change, I again researched their websites to find each candidate’s statements on energy, the environment, and climate change. 

My quick review of their positions is shown below, presented in alphabetic order by the candidate’s names. 

Since my initial post, candidates Brownback, Gilmore and Tommy Thompson have withdrawn from the race, while Fred Thompson has joined.

Surprisingly (at least to me), two of the candidates–namely Hunter and Tancredo–present no written statements on their website for either energy or environment/climate change.  You can draw your own conclusions.  Mine are not kind.

In this review, I have included, where available, the candidate’s voting scores as graded by the League of Conservation Voters. 

Giuliani’s website has a listing of his issues (which does not list energy), but also a link to his “12 committments” pages, which I confess that I missed in my research last week.   It is on these latter pages that he addresses other issues, including energy (thanks to Amy Kane for the correction).  Giuliani addresses energy in terms of energy independence and diversification of the country’s energy portfolio.  He advocates “clean” coal, energy-technology development, biofuels, renewables, nuclear, and further exploration and development of North American sources of fossil fuels, as well as conservation (the last of these is unusual among the Republican candidates.)  He also addresses our aging energy infrastructure, which is an issue that many other candidates, from both sides, have missed.  Giuliani’s website does not offer many details, but he does propose and “EnergyStat” metric for monitoring progess toward his goal of energy independence. 

I could find no issues-statement on climate change on Giuliani’s website. 

Energy excerpt (no statement offered for climate change):

Every potential solution must be pursued - from nuclear power to increased energy exploration to more aggressive investment in alternative energy sources. I believe that America can achieve energy independence through a national strategy that emphasizes diversification, innovation, and conservation. - Mayor Rudy Giuliani

  League of Conservation Voters’ score:  N/A (Giuliani had no state or federal legislative voting record, and thus was not scored)

Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas

Compared to his Republican counterparts, Huckabee does provide more substantial statements on the issues.  He demonstrates an understanding of the importance of energy.   He states a goal of energy independence by the end of his second term, but offers few details, other than stating he will rely on market forces and the “bully pulpit” of the presidency.  He does mention increased exploration, conservation (unusual among the Republican candidates), and development of alternative energy resources, but offers no specifics. 

I could find no statement about climate change, or any other environment issue on his website.  This should not be surprising, as Huckabee has shown himself to be no friend of science.  Huckabee has stated in debates that he does not believe in evolution, and has gone on record as stating the he believes the planet earth to be approximately 6000 years old.

Energy excerpt (no statement offered for climate change):

The first thing I will do as President is send Congress my comprehensive plan for energy independence. We will achieve energy independence by the end of my second term.
 
Achieving energy independence is vital to achieving success both in the war on terror and in globalization. Energy independence will help guarantee both our safety and our prosperity.
 
We have to explore, we have to conserve, and we have to pursue all avenues of alternative energy: nuclear, wind, solar, hydrogen, clean coal, biodiesel, and biomass.

League of Conservation Voters’ score:  N/A (Huckabee had no state or federal legislative voting record, and thus was not scored)

Duncan Hunter, Representative from California

Hunter’s website provides summary statements of his position on many issues, but Hunter offers no written statement of any kind on either energy or climate change.

League of Conservation Voters’ score:  9 out of 100

John McCain, Senator from Arizona 

McCain is unusual in that he seems to be presenting himself as the Republican Party’s environmental candidate.  On the issues page of his website, he has a heading named Environment, and beneath it a statement entitled “Stewards of Our Nation’s Rich Natural Heritage”.  His couching of environmental issues in terms of stewardship seems to be an appeal to the religious right in his party.  In his statement, he speaks of protecting clean air and water, maintaining green spaces, and promoting sustainable land use.  He does actually use the term ”global warming”, and briefly mentions energy and the limiting of carbon emissions.  His entire “stewardship” statement is shown below.

Energy and climate change statement:

John McCain has a proud record of common sense stewardship. Along with his commitment to clean air and water, and to conserving open space, he has been a leader on the issue of global warming with the courage to call the nation to action on an issue we can no longer afford to ignore.

America has been blessed with a rich and diverse natural heritage. In the tradition of his hero, Theodore Roosevelt, John McCain believes that we are vested with a sacred duty to be proper stewards of the resources upon which the quality of American life depends. Ensuring clean air, safe and healthy water, sustainable land use, ample greenspace - and the faithful care and management of our natural treasures, including our proud National Park System - is a patriotic responsibility. One that must be met not only for the benefit of our generation, but for our children and those to whom we will pass the American legacy.

John McCain believes that America’s economic and environmental interests are not mutually exclusive, but rather inextricably linked. Our economic prospects depend greatly upon the sustainable use of ample and unspoiled natural resources. A clean and healthy environment is well served by a strong economy. History shows that poverty is a poor steward.

As John McCain said, “Americans solve problems. We don’t run from them.” He believes that ignoring the problem reflects a “liberal live for today” attitude unworthy of our great country, and poses a serious and unacceptable threat to our environment, our economy, and U.S. national security. He has offered common sense approaches to limit carbon emissions by harnessing market forces that will bring advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, to the market faster, reduce our dependence on foreign supplies of energy, and see to it that America leads in a way that ensures all nations do their rightful share.

By addressing this problem responsibly, John McCain believes we can meet our obligation to be proper caretakers of creation, in a manner of which we can be proud - by protecting our country, strengthening our economy, and addressing the challenges of our time, rather than leaving a much worse problem for our children.

League of Conservation Voters’ score: 26 out of 100

Ron Paul, Representative from Texas

Paul’s website provides statements of his position on several issues.  Although he does not directly address energy, and makes no statement on climate change, he does provide a statement on environmental issues. Paul’s appeal and recent surge in popularity seem to be tied to his personality, folksy presentation, and libertarian philosophy (except in the case of reproductive rights).  Paul’s take on the environment is based in the enforcement of property rights.  He quite clearly believes that the government itself is the largest part of the problem.

Environmental statement excerpt (no statement provided for energy or climate change):

The federal government has proven itself untrustworthy with environmental policy by facilitating polluters, subsidizing logging in the National Forests, and instituting one-size-fits-all approaches that too often discriminate against those they are intended to help.

The key to sound environmental policy is respect for private property rights. The strict enforcement of property rights corrects environmental wrongs while increasing the cost of polluting.

In a free market, no one is allowed to pollute his neighbor’s land, air, or water. If your property is being damaged, you have every right to sue the polluter, and government should protect that right. After paying damages, the polluter’s production and sale costs rise, making it unprofitable to continue doing business the same way. Currently, preemptive regulations and pay-to-pollute schemes favor those wealthy enough to perform the regulatory tap dance, while those who own the polluted land rarely receive a quick or just resolution to their problems.

League of Conservation Voters’ score:  30 out of 100

Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts

Romney provides statements for several issues on his website, but provides varying levels of detail.  He directly addresses energy as an issue (”achieving energy independence”), but only very briefly, and provides almost no specifics.   He advocates further exploration and drilling of domestic oil sources, and development of some alternative sources.   He offers now written statment regarding climate change.  His entire energy statement is shown below.

Energy excerpt (no statement offered for climate change):

We must become independent from foreign sources of oil. This will mean a combination of efforts related to conservation and efficiency measures, developing alternative sources of energy like biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear, and coal gasification, and finding more domestic sources of oil such as in ANWR or the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Governor Romney: “We’re using too much oil,” Romney said. “We have an answer. We can use alternative sources of energy — biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear power — and we can drill for more oil here. We can be more energy independent and we can be far more efficient in the use of that energy.”  (Waterloo Courier, September 29, 2006)

League of Conservation Voters’ score:  N/A (Romney had no state or federal legislative voting record, and thus was not scored)

Tom Tancredo, Representative from Colorado

Tancredo’s website provides brief statements of his position on several issues.  However, he offers no written statement of any kind on either energy or climate change.  Again, not surprising, as Tancredo seems to be banking his candidacy on one issue, immigration.  He, like Huckabee, gives no credence to science, and publicly stated in a debate that he does not believe in evolution.

League of Conservation Voters’ score:  11 out of 100 

Fred Thompson, former Senator from Tennessee

Thompson’s website provides brief statements on several issues.  He address energy and, very briefly, climate change as part of this statement on “energy security”.  On climate change he states: “while we don’t know for certain how or why climate change is occurring, it makes sense to take reasonable steps to reduce CO2 emissions without harming our economy.”  He provides few specifics on either issue.  His entire energy and climate change statement is shown below.

Energy and climate change statement(”energy security”):

The energy challenges our nation faces today are real and significant. Our dependence on foreign sources of oil threatens our national security and puts our economic prosperity at risk. America must rise to the challenge and take the steps necessary to become more energy independent before this becomes a crisis. No one solution will solve the energy challenges we face; all ideas must be on the table. Greater energy security will enhance our ability to pursue our foreign policy and national security objectives. Increasing our energy independence and investing in alternative energy sources will also produce a healthier environment. And while we don’t know for certain how or why climate change is occurring, it makes sense to take reasonable steps to reduce CO2 emissions without harming our economy. Overall, I am committed to:

• A balanced approach to energy security that increases domestic supplies, reduces demand for oil and gas, and promotes alternative fuels and other diverse energy sources.
• Investing in renewable and alternative fuels to promote greater energy independence and a cleaner environment.
• An energy policy that invests in the advanced technologies of tomorrow and places more emphasis on conservation and energy efficiency.
• Conducting research and development into technologies that improve the environment, especially the reduction of CO2 emissions.

League of Conservation Voters’ score:  12 out of 100