Romney Excerpts vs. the Truth: North American Energy Independence by 2020
In his high stakes convention speech tonight, Mitt Romney is going to reiterate his goal of making North America energy independent by year 2020. But this goal is impossible with his policies, which, Romney admits, was written by his Big Oil advisors for Big Oil interests. The plan would squash energy efficiency and cut incentives for homegrown alternative energy development.
ROMNEY EXCERPT:
“First, by 2020, North America will be energy independent by taking full advantage of our oil and coal and gas and nuclear and renewables.”
TRUTH:
ROMNEY CAN’T GET TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT THE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS HE OPPOSES
Washington Post: “Romney’s Plan Spends A Lot Of Time Talking About Drilling” But “Energy Independence Will Require More Than Just Drilling — It Will Also Depend On Efficiency Standards That Romney Has Opposed.” “Energy independence will require more than just drilling — it will also depend on efficiency standards that Romney has opposed. Mitt Romney’s plan spends a lot of time talking about drilling. But it’s worth noting that both the EIA and Citigroup credit the Obama administration’s new fuel-economy standards for cars and light trucks as a major part of America’s lurch toward energy independence. By 2025, the increased CAFE standards are expected to reduce U.S. oil consumption by about 2.2 million barrels per day. Without those rules, energy independence looks nearly impossible. And Romney, for his part, has pledged to overturn those fuel-economy rules.” [Wonk Blog, Washington Post, 8/23/12]
New York Times’ Robert Semple, Jr.: American Energy Independence Would Depend On Alternatives And Efficiency, Neither Addressed In Romney’s Plan. “Let’s start first with the premise of the plan, which is also its promise: that energy independence is an achievable goal for America by 2020. Presidents have been talking about energy independence since Richard Nixon and haven’t come close. The simple truth, as President Obama has recognized, is that a country that holds less than 3 percent of the world’s reserves but consumes more than 20 percent of the world’s supply cannot drill its way to energy independence. More production will help, but true independence from foreign imports – not to mention fewer greenhouses gases and a safer climate, a subject Mr. Romney never touches upon – will depend on developing alternative fuels and more efficient vehicles.” [Robert Semple, Jr. op-ed, New York Times, 8/24/12]
Headline: “T. Boone Pickens Blasts Romney’s Energy Plan: ‘All They Talk About Is Oil’” [Thing Progress, 8/23/12]
ROMNEY’S ENERGY PLAN WAS DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH BIG OIL
A Romney Aide Revealed The Energy Plan Had Been Developed In Consultation With Oil And Gas Executives, Including Harold Hamm, Romney Advisor And Donor Who Owned Continental Resources Oil Company. “An individual close to the Romney campaign said that Mr. Romney’s staff drafted the proposal in consultation with industry executives, including Harold Hamm, an Oklahoma billionaire who is the chairman of the campaign’s energy advisory committee and chief executive of Continental Resources, an oil and gas driller. Just this week, the oil and gas industry gave nearly $10 million toward the Romney election effort in two fund-raisers. The Romney aide, who said she was not authorized to speak on the record about the plan, said that any consultation with industry officials was simply to tap their expertise and did not mean the proposal was being shaped to serve their interests. Mr. Romney’s proposal drew immediate praise from the industry, which has complained that gas production on public lands has slowed under President Obama, even while it has surged on private lands.” [New York Times, 8/24/12]
MSNBC’s Chris Jansing: “We Should Say In The Last Two Days Mitt Romney's Campaign Has Raised $10 Million In Oil Money. And Is It Fair For A Voter To Look And Say, ‘Can They Really Be Looking Out Of My Best Interest?’ …When You’re Taking Millions Of Dollars From People Who Clearly Have An Interest In Seeing More Drilling.” [Jansing & Co., MSNBC, 8/23/12]