Presidential Candidates Flaunt Different Energy PoliciesIn the 2008 presidential campaign, the focus was how to decrease carbon emissions and stop global warming. At present, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney talk about the need to end the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

Romney pledged that North America will be energy independent by 2020. The region would produce all the energy it needs in North America. He mentioned the goal in the opening minutes of the presidential debate Wednesday night in Denver. President Obama’s plan would cut oil imports in half by 2020.

Both candidates want the United States to get its own secure energy supply and be less affected by the happenings in the Middle East. Every US president since Richard Nixon announced an energy independence plan.

The current presidential race has highlighted the need of energy independence by the nation. It has become more realistic in recent years than at any point in the past decades. The conflicts in Iran, Libya and Iraq have showed the dangers of depending on the Middle East for oil supplies.

Romney and President Obama have different strategies in achieving energy self-sufficiency. Romney wants to improve production by helping out energy companies by relaxing environmental restrictions on exploration and production. He would also approve infrastructure projects, such as the Keystone pipeline. He also promised to issue more permits to drill for gas and oil on federal lands. Romney gets his energy advice from oil executives.

President Obama wants to reduce domestic demand for oil. He argued that more drilling would not make the United States more energy secure. He said that if every part of the country is drilled, the nation would still need to buy the rest of the required oil from somewhere else if people continue to use the same amount of oil and energy.

Analysts said that President Obama has a point. To be more energy-sufficient, it is better to reduce the requirement instead of boosting production.