USA Today: on Energy & Oil


Andrew Yang: Get incentives right to subsidize renewable energy

Q: Should the U.S. government offer subsidies for renewable energy, such as wind energy or ethanol?

YANG: Yes. The government needs to get the incentives right, so we should provide subsidies to the renewable sector and end them for fossil fuel companies.

Source: USA Today on 2019 Democratic primary Nov 7, 2019

Tom Steyer: On Day 1: declare climate crisis a national emergency

On Day 1, I will declare the climate crisis a national emergency. In addition to taking bold executive actions, I will challenge Congress to pass vital legislation to enact a Green New Deal and provide additional funding to protect the country against climate and weather-related natural disasters. My Justice-Centered Climate Plan will eliminate fossil fuel pollution from all sectors to achieve a 100% clean energy economy and net-zero global warming pollution by no later than 2045.

I will ensure that protecting the climate is central to our diplomacy and trade policies. We can and will work with our partner nations to advance a global consensus. I will recommit to the Paris Climate Agreement and ratify the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol. I'll join the international Powering Past Coal Alliance, work to end global financing for coal-fired power plants and create a green screen for our foreign aid and investments.

Source: USA Today on 2019 Democratic primary Nov 7, 2019

Tom Steyer: End subsidies & tax breaks for fossil fuels

We must break the corporate stranglehold in Washington to solve our climate crisis. I would end all government giveaways to polluters including direct subsidies, tax breaks, lax and under-enforced environmental and worker protections, and the subsidization of fossil fuel production on public lands. In addition to issuing no new fossil fuel leases on federal lands, I will end subsidies for ongoing fossil fuel operations.
Source: USA Today on 2019 Democratic primary Nov 7, 2019

George W. Bush: Incentives for high-mileage cars, but drill for more oil

The problemThe Bush planOther choices
Soaring gasoline prices
  • Open new federal lands to oil exploration and drilling
  • Ease regulations on refineries and pipelines
  • Establish regional gasoline reserves to smooth out price spikes
  • Limit the types of summer gasoline blends
  • Investigate if oil companies are withholding supplies to bolster prices
  • Lift sanctions on Iraq, Iran, and Libya
    • Increasing dependence on foreign oil
  • Promote domestic on oil exploration, especially in ANWR
  • Provide tax incentives for the purchase of high-mileage cars
  • Mandate higher fuel efficiency standards for cars, trucks, and SUVs
  • Increase funding for gasoline-electric “hybrids” and hydrogen-powered cars
  • Diversify foreign supplies away from OPEC nations
  • Promote energy-sector reforms in Russia and the Caspian Sea region
  • Expand mass transit
    • Source: USA Today, p. 2A May 14, 2001

    George W. Bush: More exploration, more nuclear, more energy research

    The problemThe Bush planOther choices
    Tighter natural gas supplies
  • Open new lands in the Rockies & Gulf of Mexico to oil exploration
  • Ease regulations on pipelines
  • Diversify electricity generation to fuel sources such as nuclear & coal
  • Construct a gas pipeline in Alaska
  • Open ocean coasts to gas exploration
  • Import more liquefied natural gas
    • Blackouts
  • Extend federal eminent domain rights to include power line right-of-ways
  • Streamline regulations on new power plants
  • Federal aid for upgrading & relicensing nuclear power plants
  • Fund clean-coal research
  • New efficiency standards on TVs, radios, & other appliances
    		•
  • Cap wholesale power costs in California
  • Fund research into alternative power sources
  • Connect regional electrical grids into a national power grid
  • Deregulate electricity nationally
  • Promote electricity conservation
    • Source: USA Today, p. 2A May 14, 2001

    Dick Cheney: Energy plan focuses on production

    Cheney called alternative fuels such as ethanol or solar power promising but still “years down the road.” He said the administration will push for drilling in Alaska’s ANWR. Cheney said telling Americans to do more with less is not enough. “Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy,” he said.
    Source: USA Today, p. 1A May 1, 2001

    • The above quotations are from Columns and news articles in USA Today.
    • Click here for definitions & background information on Energy & Oil.
    • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
    2020 Presidential contenders on Energy & Oil:
      Democrats running for President:
    Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
    V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
    Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
    Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
    Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
    Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
    Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
    Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
    Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
    Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
    Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
    Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
    Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
    CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
    Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
    Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
    CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

    2020 Third Party Candidates:
    Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
    CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
    Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
    Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
    Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
    Howard Schultz(I-WA)
    Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)     		Republicans running for President:
    Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
    Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
    Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
    V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
    Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
    Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
    Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
    Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

    2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
    Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
    Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
    Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
    Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
    Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
    Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
    Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
    Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
    Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
    Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
    Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
    Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
    Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
    Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
    Click for details -- or send donations to:
    1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
    E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
    (We rely on your support!)

    Page last updated: Sep 23, 2022