Pre-debate reads on energy

 Kenneth P. Green

Though tonight’s presidential debate is likely to be long on imagery and symbolism and short on substance, it never hurts to be prepared in case a candidate accidentally utters something concrete and meaningful. Here are two recent articles on the energy views of Mitt Romney and Barack Obama that might help people interpret the generalities:
1. In this article, my colleague Elizabeth DeMeo and I compare the energy policy views of Obama and Romney. As we see it, the candidates differ on three general axes: Obama’s for more state control over energy markets; he’s indifferent to energy affordability; and he has a strangely “go it alone” view of energy independence that seems to exclude Canada and Mexico from the equation. Of course, we have several years of experience with which to judge Obama. Romney, on the other hand, looks better on paper in terms of his promotion of greater market freedom, less venture socialism, and he seems to be cognizant of the importance of energy affordability. Whether Romney would actually govern that way is something of a question mark — previous Republican administrations have not been immune to foolish “green” energy policies such as mandating ethanol from cellulose, humoring wind- and solar-power fantasies, and of course, wallowing in a fetishistic attachment to nuclear power.
2. Over at Heritage, Nicolas Loris documents the Obama Administration’s energy policy track-record, which I’ve previously described as one of energy-strangulation. From slowing energy production on federal lands; to refusing to issue leases for exploration; to stalling Keystone; and to threatening the shale gas boom; Loris touches on 10 of the administration’s biggest strangulation grips.
Finally, for those planning to play drinking games to soften the pain of the debates… buzz phrases that probably warrant a snort of the hard stuff would include:

• Green energy (Obama)
• Green jobs (Obama)
• Subsidies to oil companies (Obama)
• Climate change (Obama)
• Clean-coal (Romney)
• North American energy (Romney)
• Alaska / Offshore oil (Romney)
• Solyndra (Romney)
• “All of the above energy policy” (Both)