Super Tuesday Guide to Green Voting

Where the Candidates Stand on Energy and Environmental Issues

By Dan Shapley

Super Tuesday could well decide the nominees for president. That's why it's being referred to this year as Tsunami Tuesday. The stakes are higher for Republicans, most analysts agree, but also high for Democrats. While energy and environmental issues have not been high on voters' minds in the primary season, they are likely to take on greater importance in the general election, which will highlight contrasts between Republican and Democratic approaches. This feature gives voters information about each candidate at a glance. Click on any candidate's name for a detailed profile.
White House
White House

Hillary Clinton
Global Warming: Cut carbon dioxide emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 with a cap-and-trade regulation.
Alternative Energy: Start a $50 Billion Strategic Energy Fund to pay for research, development and deployment of renewable, alternative and clean energy technologies
Also Notable: Clinton would develop a "Connie Mae" program to help low- and middle-income families make investments in home energy efficiency. She has taken in more money from industries that a green voter might be wary of than any remaining candidate.

Mike Huckabee
Global Warming: Has said he supports a cap-and-trade regulation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but has not stated specific goals.
Alternative Energy: Supports various energy technologies, including nuclear power, and new domestic oil exploration, but has not outlined specific policies.
Also Notable: He is the only Republican to support a renewable energy portfolio (as Democrats do) that would require power companies to generate 15% of energy from alternative sources.

John McCain
Global Warming: Has supported cutting carbon dioxide emissions 30% below present levels by 2050 with a cap-and-trade regulation.
Alternative Energy: Supports a variety of energy technologies, including nuclear energy, but has not spelled out a specific plan for research, development and deployment of new energy technologies.
Also Notable: McCain co-authored the first Senate legislation designed to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, in 2003, but missed every crucial vote on environmental issues in 2007, including on some measures that failed by a single vote.

Barack Obama
Global Warming: Cut carbon dioxide emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 with a cap-and-trade regulation.
Alternative Energy: Spend $150 billion over 10 years on renewable, alternative and clean energy research and development.
Also Notable: Obama would create an independent, private Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund to partner with existing investment funds and national laboratories to invest in new energy technologies.

Mitt Romney
Global Warming: Opposes a cap-and-trade regulation on greenhouse gases to reduce global warming, arguing that it would harm the economy
Alternative Energy: Talks frequently about new domestic oil exploration and nuclear power, and once said that the nation should invest in energy to the same degree that it invests in health and defense research and development
Also Notable: As governor of Massachusetts, Romney was the only Northeast governor to reject a bipartisan, Republican-led state-level initiative to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and he has repeatedly attacked McCain's leadership on global warming in the Senate. He also said he opposes state efforts to regulate greenhouse gas pollution from vehicles.