Republican Presidential Contenders Embrace Oil and Gas in Fifth Debate
At a recent debate in Iowa, both Ron DeSantis, the former governor of Florida, and Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, expressed support for oil and gas.
Ron DeSantis emphasized his commitment to stimulating more local production, while Nikki Haley highlighted the importance of nuclear energy in reducing emissions. The remarks from these political figures underscore the ongoing discussions and diverse perspectives on energy policies in the United States.
“We’re gonna choose Midland over Moscow. We’re gonna choose the Marcellus over the mullahs. And we’re gonna choose the Bakken over Beijing,” Ron DeSantis said during the debate, noting that if he becomes president, development in the Bakken and Marcellus shale plays would be priorities.
When asked about addressing emissions to combat climate change, Ron DeSantis prioritized energy reliability as the primary concern. On the other hand, Nikki Haley suggested that nuclear energy could play a significant role in reducing emissions. Their responses indicate differing views on the balance between energy reliability and emissions reduction strategies in the context of addressing climate change.
Both Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley committed to eliminating what they referred to as “green subsidies,” which are part of the transition projects outlined by the Biden administration.
This stance suggests a shared opposition to certain financial incentives or support mechanisms designed to promote green energy initiatives, as advocated by the Biden administration’s policies. The candidates’ commitment to removing these subsidies aligns with a broader political debate on the role of government support for renewable energy and environmental initiatives.
“On day one as president, we take Biden’s Green New Deal, we tear it up, and we throw it in the trash can,” DeSantis said.
Ron DeSantis has made a campaign promise to bring gasoline prices down to $2 per gallon if he becomes president by increasing domestic oil production. This pledge involves boosting an already record-high domestic oil production from the previous year, with a more moderate expected increase this year.
DeSantis has also outlined other energy-related campaign pledges, such as replacing what he terms “climate change ideology” with a focus on energy dominance in national security and foreign policy guidance. Additionally, he aims to boost energy exports, refill the strategic petroleum reserve, and revitalize the U.S. nuclear industry.
Nikki Haley, who played a key role in President Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, emphasized the need for the U.S. to hold China and India accountable for their carbon dioxide emissions.
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She argued that these two countries are much larger emitters than the U.S. and called for increased efforts to address their emissions. The perspectives of both candidates reflect ongoing debates on energy policy, climate change, and international cooperation on environmental issues.
Both candidates slammed the Biden administration’s plans for a phaseout of internal combustion engine cars, with Haley noting the lack of charging infrastructure and the damage that heavier EV vehicles would do to roads.
