Environment

‘Real News From The Blaze:’ Romney Campaign Focuses in on Coal and Competing Energy Plans

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was outside a trucking company in New Mexico Thursday where he proclaimed if elected, he would be able to put us on pace for North American energy independence by 2020 through an increase in use and production of oil, natural gas and coal. This strategy is at odds with the president’s energy approach that has brought increased regulation and reforms on the oil and gas industry, as well as worked to increase production from wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower energy production.

Romney and his supporters say the president’s energy plans are not realistic, and that President Obama has vilified and handcuffed coal and oil producers under the environmental policies of this administration. As major coal producers call states like Ohio and Pennsylvania home, attacking the president on this issue could be politically advantageous for the Romney campaign, desperate to take the national discussion away from Todd Akin’s remarks earlier in the week that have dominated the news cycle.

The “Real News From The Blaze” panel Thursday discussed the energy plans of Romney and President Obama, how major coal producing states will play a role in this presidential election, and whether the downturn in the coal industry over the last four years is a result of environmental policies or the free market.

Comments (19)

  • libsaredangerous
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 4:39pm

    I hope he really goes after Barrack on what he said before being elected and what his EPA has done to coal. Romney has a habit of not going as far as he needs to. He needs to dwell on this and really attack Obama. There is no reason why the coal vote can overcome the benefits vote in PA, as an example. I never knew Montana was a coal producer, either.

    Report Post » libsaredangerous  
  • Bill Rowland
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 6:42am

    Does anyone else remember that Sweet Old Barack told us that his energy policy would necessarily double the cost of our electricity. He was going to shut down the plants that he considered dirty. Now his DOE is writing more into the laws passed by congress than congress ever intended. TX just won a suit about being fined because their dirty energy residue was being carried to other states by the wind. Fat Albert Gore style science.

    OMG Nov 6,, 2012

    Report Post »  
  • tothepoint
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 6:00am

    Thanks to Obama and his gang, the coal industry is closing more businesses and has lost tens of thousands of jobs.
    When campaigning, Obama said he was gonna shut down the coal industry which provides most of the fuel for our electricity in this country.
    Why any coal state would vote Obama is beyond me.
    Wake up Pennsylvania and any other coal state – this President is looking to shut your coal companies down. and put you all out of work.

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:55am

    Liberals consider Coal & Oil… as “black”, thereby Dirty… so, we are now into Dirty Political Speak!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • HatesLiars
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:44pm

    Supply will help a lot. It will have to be clean, because without that, democrats will take back the congress. Republicans have to show they support clean air and water. We don’t need cap and trade to do it.

    The other poster is right about the valuation of our currency and the cost of oil. When gold and silver comes down, so will oil.

    Report Post »  
  • TRILO
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:47pm

    Great idea but am I supposed to believe this from a man who not too long ago said he believed in man made global warming and supported the cap and trade scheme as a governor? Should we attribute his change in philosophy once again as a states rights issue vs. a federal issue?

    Mitten has had too many positions on issues that I really do not know what he will do.

    Report Post » TRILO  
  • Fearnone
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:26pm

    If Romney is elected, I believe that by him just stating that regulations are hereby lifted on oil drilling, the price of gas at the pump will drop immediately by $1 a gallon.

    Report Post » Fearnone  
    • TRILO
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 9:02pm

      The price of gas/oil is tied more to the instability in the world and the devaluation of the US dollar. New energy sources will take years to access and get to market. The US has recently become a net exporter of gasoline.

      https://www.pfcenergy.com/PFC-Energy-Newsroom/PFC-Energy-Press-Releases/2012/US-Becomes-Net-Gasoline-Exporter-for-First-Time-Since-1961

      Romney’s foreign and monetary policy (as well as TOTUS) will have a greater impact on the immediate oil/gas prices than his long term energy policy. Keep pushing war with Iran and/or Syria…gas at $8-10 a gallon. Do not get the budget under IMMEDIATE control (not 28 years like the Ryan plan) the crash of the dollar and hyperinflation will make energy too costly for most to afford.

      The federal government needs to get out of energy all together. No more subsidies or special tax breaks for any energy industry. It is time they stand on their own.

      Report Post » TRILO  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:21pm

    Instead of Romney making promises about how much energy the country will produce – i would rather him say that he will remove the federal government from the private energy sector

    Report Post » soybomb315_II  
  • roadhog
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:14pm

    Gas at $2.00 a gallon promise would help Mr. Romeny

    Report Post »  
    • bpodlesnik
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:38pm

      That would be a false promise. Gas prices may go lower under Romney, but I doubt $2.00/gallon low.

      Report Post » bpodlesnik  

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