Senator John McCain (R)

Global Warming and Energy

Mandatory Emission Caps [click here to read question five]

"The issue of climate change is one of the most important issues facing our nation and the world today. Accordingly, I believe that the next President of the United States, working with Congress, has an obligation to act. The environmental and economic threat posed by climate change is enormous, as are the stakes of how well we deal with the problem. Clearly, the quality of our response to this challenge will heavily influence the safety, security, and prosperity of our country for many decades to come. Accordingly, I believe that the establishment of a sound and comprehensive national climate change policy is a solemn responsibility of the President and lawmakers that must not be abdicated either to an agency or the courts."

International Action on Global Warming [click here to read question six]

"Climate change is a global problem that demands a global solution. This problem cannot be solved by the United States alone, nor can it be solved without our leadership. The world has always looked to American leadership on the most pressing international issues of the day; and it has always been in America’s national interest to lead where our interests and values are at stake. A responsible international effort is essential if the serious problem of global climate change is to be tackled properly and without placing an unfair burden on our country. This will require leadership by the United States, and as President, I will see that we provide it. Such an agreement must set environmentally sound goals and employ flexible, market-based mechanisms to achieve wise objectives cost-effectively. Both the targets and the means of achieving them must be based on common sense, sound science, fairness, and a commitment to the responsible stewardship of the global climate and our prosperity. Finally, our domestic and international policies on climate change must recognize not only the serious risks posed by the lack of sufficient action, but the environmental, economic, and national security benefits we can enjoy by getting it right. As President, I’ll see that that we do."

Fuel Efficiency Standards [click here to read question seven]

"America’s reliance on foreign oil poses a danger to the nation’s security, our economy, and the environment. Fuel efficiency standards can play a significant role in reducing our dependence on foreign oil and improving the nation’s air quality, and the production of more fuel-efficient cars may also help the America’s automobile manufacturing industry to compete more successfully both at home and abroad. Energy diversity and fuel efficiency can and should be improved. As President I will work with Congress and all stakeholders to see that achievable and appropriate standards are put into place that will optimize advances in technology, protect auto safety, meet family needs and consumer demands, promote the nation’s energy security, and help our industry compete in a global economy. I believe that the use of advanced materials and other technologies including alternatively fueled vehicles, flexibly fueled vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles can help us meet our objectives successfully. I have supported aggressive CAFE standards in the past and will continue to work to increase CAFE standards to a level that is practical and achievable for all new vehicles, foreign and domestic, because improved fuel economy will help our nation achieve national energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and improve local and regional air quality."

Renewable Energy Standards [click here to read question eight]

"As a strong supporter of a greenhouse gas cap and trade system, I believe that such an approach is a better way to diversify and cleanup up the nation’s energy mix by harnessing the power of market forces. I believe that government’s role is to set appropriate standards to protect the environment and allow the market to determine the best means of achieving them. To the extent that state and local policymakers identify useful ways to augment this architecture, I believe that governors, mayors, county supervisors, public utility commission and other authorities can better tailor such policies to local conditions and resources."

Efficiency Standards [click here to read question nine]

"I believe that a comprehensive policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by pricing carbon through the implementation of a responsible cap and trade system will harness the transformational power of market forces and drive consumer demand for more energy efficient products. Moreover, such an approach will help secure the leadership of U.S. manufacturers and innovators in meeting the world’s demand for greener products. In cases where more rigorous energy efficiency standards are reasonable, achievable, and will materially advance the cause of conservation and energy security than I will implement them while ensuring they meet consumer demands in terms of cost, quality, and performance. Conservation and efficiency will be an important element in my administration’s implementation of a national energy policy that serves America’s economic, environmental, and national security interests and values now and for future generations."

Nuclear Energy [click here to read question ten]

"I strongly support greater reliance on nuclear power. I believe that if we are to be serious about addressing global warming, improving air quality, and achieving national energy security we must also be serious about ensuring that nuclear energy is permitted to play a more significant role in our energy mix. This, of course, requires that we work together to overcome the political obstacles that impede our ability to provide for the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel. I believe in American innovation, know how, and resolve, and I firmly believe that we are up to this challenge in a way that will greatly benefit the environment.

I believe that within the context of strong public health, safety, and environmental standards, the market should determine economic winners and losers, not politically-driven subsidies from Washington. I have spent many years in the nation’s service fighting against unnecessary and wasteful spending, and will carry on that charge as President.

The federal government retains an appropriate role in supporting basic research for all potential energy sources and the obligation to overcome barriers to the development and deployment of advantageous technologies, such as nuclear, where such obstacles arise from political uncertainty rather than economics."

Liquid Coal [click here to read question eleven]

"My proposed greenhouse gas cap and trade system would set responsible standards and harness market forces to ensure that environmental goals are fully achieved, while allowing the market to determine which fuels will provide the energy. Clearly, the development of reduced-carbon transportation fuels to replace petroleum must contribute to our efforts to reduce the emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases. Under a cap and trade system, fuels that fail this test, or are economically prohibitive, will neither succeed in the marketplace, nor merit the support of the public purse. I do believe, however, that carbon capture and pollution control technology will continue to advance, and must succeed if coal to liquid fuels are to be viable. It must be a national mission to develop a catalyst capable of breaking down carbon dioxide into useful chemical building blocks, and render it a new source of revenue and opportunity. Doing so will enable us to take advantage of our most abundant energy sources while meeting our clean air and climate stewardship obligations."

New Coal Plants [click here to read question twelve]

"I support a national greenhouse gas emission cap and trade regimen that includes responsible emission limits and allows market forces to determine how best to meet them. Such a regimen will provide a decisive economic incentive for power producers to maximize the capture of carbon emissions. Clearly, a utility that builds a new coal plant without factoring in the inevitable curbs on carbon emissions necessary to combat climate change or the market opportunities of limiting such emissions would be doing a disservice both to their customers and stockholders. Accordingly, I believe that new coal plants should be constructed in a manner that is capture-ready, and can accommodate the retrofit of this technology as it advances."