Former Governor Mitt Romney has acknowledged that global warming is real, but he has not released a comprehensive plan to address the climate crisis and our energy challenges. Gov. Romney has placed an emphasis on achieving energy independence, which does include increasing renewable energy sources and energy efficiency,¹ but also relies on a continuation of our current failed energy policies. In fact, the energy section of his website touts a quote from the governor in which he advocates using more nuclear power and tapping in to more domestic sources of oil, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.² Additionally, what few details Gov. Romney has offered regarding his energy plan do not include any concrete goals, targets or timelines.

On global warming, Gov. Romney has said he would consider supporting a cap-and-trade system only if it was enacted globally and other countries are required to abide by it.³ Further demonstrating his reluctance to lead, Gov. Romney often says: “They don’t call it America warming, they call it global warming.”⁴ His reluctance to embrace real global warming solutions and his approach to energy policy, as noted above, will actually exacerbate the climate crisis. In addition, his support for liquid coal is troubling,⁵ despite his assurances that he would seek to sequester the carbon.

Unfortunately, Gov. Romney has a history of turning his back on climate change. As governor of Massachusetts, Gov. Romney had initially pledged that the state would participate in the Northeast States Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI),⁶ a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Central to RGGI is the implementation of a multi-state, cap-and-trade program with a market-based emissions trading system.⁷ However, at the last minute, Gov. Romney reneged on his pledge and backed out of the initiative.⁸

Aside from energy policy, Gov. Romney’s environmental record in Massachusetts was widely regarded as disappointing. For example, Gov. Romney vetoed spending increases for Massachusetts state parks,⁹ which rank 48th in the country for per capita spending,¹⁰ and cut the state Department of Environmental Protection’s budget and staff, weakening enforcement of environmental laws as a result.¹¹

In his own words

Romney on energy and global warming:

“I believe we have to be developing more energy sources ourselves, which would include offshore drilling and drilling in ANWR, nuclear power, biodiesel, biofuel, ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, probably liquefied coal. We have enormous supplies of coal.”¹²

On other key environmental issues, Gov. Romney:

Supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.¹³

*Gov. Romney did not return LCV’s Presidential Candidate Questionnaire. Information based on public record.