Sen. John McCain

“The world is already feeling the powerful effects of global warming, and far more dire consequences are predicted if we let the growing deluge of greenhouse gas emissions continue, and wreak havoc with God's creation. A group of senior retired military officers recently warned about the potential upheaval caused by conflicts over water, arable land and other natural resources under strain from a warming planet. The problem isn't a Hollywood invention nor is doing something about it a vanity of Cassandra like hysterics. It is a serious and urgent economic, environmental and national security challenge."

—John McCain, April 2007

Sen. John McCain made control of carbon dioxide emissions a signature issue after his failed 2000 election bid, a decision he said started with a voter's question in New Hampshire. McCain was an original co-sponsor of the first Senate climate bill, in 2003, and was the first — and for months, the only — Republican presidential candidate to advocate a cap on U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.

That position, and others, has earned him past endorsements, in previous election campaigns, from the League of Conservation Voters, and it has earned him an early endorsement for 2008 president from Republicans for Environmental Protection.

Since 1999, his score on the LCV Scorecard was 29. The Scorecard rates politicians on a scale of 0 to 100 based on their votes on environmental issues on which LCV has taken a position. His score each session ranged from 6 to 56. On a similar scorecard that rates Republican office holders by Republicans for Environmental Protection, he averaged 55 out of 100 in 2005 and 2006.

The 2008 McCain campaign has taken $189,677 from the oil and gas industry, the fourth highest total of any candidate and third highest among Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

John McCain's Energy and Environmental Platform at a Glance

McCain frames energy issues both in national security terms ("We're one successful attack away from an economic crisis" because of our dependence on foreign oil) and environmental terms ("The burning of oil and other fossil fuels is contributing to the dangerous accumulation of greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere, altering our climate with the potential for major social, economic and political upheaval"). He endorses the views that protecting the environment is work for the faithful, and that American ingenuity and spirit can solve the daunting problems of global warming and oil addiction.

Like other Republican candidates, McCain has not published a detailed energy plan. In his April 24, 2007, energy policy speech, he promised to unveil a detailed energy strategy, if elected president, that would "promote the diversification and conservation" of energy sources. Based on that speech, his proposals as a Senator, and other public statements, here are some elements we might expect:

• Cut carbon dioxide emissions 30% below 2004 levels by 2050. It would employ a cap-and-trade system whereby companies would have to restrict pollution to within a national cap, and those that pollute less could sell credits to those who pollute more.

• Support the construction of new nuclear power plants, and create economic incentives for communities that host nuclear waste repositories.
• Support research and development of new energy technologies, including coal gasification and carbon capture — two strategies for eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants.
• Work with China to share clean coal technology.
• Make it a "national mission" to develop ways to break down carbon dioxide into valuable components.
• Support new fossil fuel exploration and extraction, including the pumping of carbon dioxide stripped from coal at power plants into existing oil and gas wells to boost flagging production.

• Support development of plug-in and battery-powered electric, hybrid fuel-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
• Supports the use of alternative fuels, like ethanol from various crop sources, and biodiesel from wastes. As with other energy technology, he does not support direct subsidies, but supports government spending on research and development, pilot projects and other initiatives to spur development of products that then can compete in the free market.
• Support an unspecified "dramatic" increase in fuel efficiency. He once supported boosting the fuel economy of vehicles to 36 mpg by 2016.

• Make permanent a research and development tax credit that businesses use to invest in research and development.

• League of Conservation Voters
• The Heat Is On, a partnership project of the LCV Education Fund
• Grist
• John McCain's Campaign Website
• John McCain's Energy Policy Speech
• Republicans for Environmental Protection
• Center for Responsive Politics

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