Romney promises energy independence by 2020

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Washington Examiner:

Mitt Romney on Thursday vowed to help the United States achieve energy independence by 2020, but offered few details of how he would deliver on an aspiration that has eluded all other presidents for decades.

"I know that in campaigns, talk can be cheap. You can say anything," Romney said in Colorado, where he unveiled a middle-class jobs plan that called for more domestic energy production and fewer coal industry regulations. "This is not just an idea, but energy independence for North America."

Romney promised not only energy independence, but a better educational system, free trade agreements and small-business growth -- all while slashing a record federal budget deficit. But he provided few specific proposals for achieving those things.

Romney did pledge to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would move oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and create thousands of jobs in the process. That pipeline was stalled by the Obama administration, which cited environmental concerns. Romney also said he would streamline permits for domestic oil and gas exploration and increase access to energy sources.

But when asked how those initiatives would ensure energy independence in just eight years, Jonathan Burks, Romney's deputy policy director, told reporters, "There's a lot of energy here in the United States."

That strategy of emphasizing a global vision while offering few concrete proposals has become commonplace for the Republican presidential contender. Rather than wage a numbers-specific battle with Obama, the former Massachusetts governor has trumpeted desired outcomes, banking that voters' disillusionment with the president precludes the need for a detailed framework.

Romney sought to highlight for voters issues that have led to a drop in enthusiasm for Obama in his first term. Romney produced a "report card," giving Obama abysmal grades for job growth, deficit reduction and other initiatives on which the president's 2008 campaign promises fell short.

Throughout his first term, Obama has touted wind, solar and other green energy projects as cutting-edge job-creators that not only would rescue a recession-ravaged economy but lead the way to the nation's energy independence. He pumped more than $90 billion into other green energy initiatives like building weatherization and electric vehicles.

Yet, Obama's initiatives helped create just 16,100 green industry jobs, Labor Department statistics show, far short of the 200,000 jobs the president promised to generate each year.

Shortcomings like those and the failure of companies like Solyndra, a solar panel manufacturer whose bankruptcy will cost taxpayers about $535 million, have given Republicans room to go after Obama on energy issues.

Still, the Obama campaign ripped Romney for lacking commitment to green energy, targeting his opposition to a wind tax credit supported by many others in his party.