Gov. Mitt Romney

"I think it’s critical for us to not have ourselves as vulnerable to the economic and strategic implications of foreign oil, as we are today,"

—Mitt Romney, April 2007

Gov. Mitt Romney has made "energy independence" a part of his foreign and domestic agendas, without outlining a specific energy plan.

He has not received notable endorsements from environmental organizations in the past, and because he hasn't held national office, his voting record has not been rated by the League of Conservation Voters.

The 2008 Romney campaign has taken $296,033 from the oil and gas industry, the second-highest total among all candidates, and among Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Mitt Romney's Energy and Environmental Platform at a Glance

Romney doesn't acknowledge or deny that global warming is a problem or that humans contribute to it. His statements about energy revolve around his goal of making the country "energy independent," and he has stated that his policies will also benefit the climate. He has no specific goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and hasn't released a detailed energy or environmental plan. As governor of Massachusetts he made at least two big decisions related to global warming. These point are based on his actions as governor and public statements as presidential candidate.

CLIMATE

• As governor, he enacted voluntary state-sponsored policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and opted out of a coalition of Northeast states, led by fellow Republican New York Gov. George Pataki, that agreed to set binding limits on carbon dioxide from power plants. The plan he rejected calls for a 10% reduction in emissions below 2009 levels by 2020.

• Support investment in incentives and subsidies for new energy technology development on a scale that the federal government currently invests in defense, space and health research. He has referred to the task of increasing energy independence as needing an "Apollo-scale" initiative.
• Support ethanol made from various crops and biodiesel fuel.
• Expand use of nuclear power.
• Explore various ways to increase overall efficiency of the U.S. vehicle fleet, including mandatory increases to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards as a last resort.
• Support oil companies' investment in new refineries.
• Expand oil and gas exploration and extraction in North America, including the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and in off-shore areas.
• Support liquefied coal fuel development, provided the process sequesters carbon.

• League of Conservation Voters
• The Heat Is On, a partnership project of the LCV Education Fund
• Mitt Romney's Campaign Website
• Center for Responsive Politics

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