Bush, Gore Duel Over Energy Policy

Sept. 29, 2000 -- — Declaring that “America has no energy policy,” Republican presidential hopeful George W. Bush today unveiled a 10-year plan to drive down the nation’s energy bills and reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

“This administration tries to take credit for our economy, but they have forgotten what makes it run,” the Texas governor told employees at a manufacturing plant in Saginaw, Mich. “America runs on oil and gas and coal.”

But as Bush outlined his $8 billion, 10-year plan to boost the supplies of those crucial resources, his opponent was railing against the proposals.

“We don’t have to accept a future of old engines and power plants that waste too much energy and cause too much pollution,” Vice President Al Gore told supporters at the National Audubon Society in Chevy Chase, Md. “If we do things right … then we can have cleaner air, more reliable energy and a more prosperous economy.”

Environmental Accusation

As Bush was making the case for his most controversial energy proposal — opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil and gas drilling — Gore was condemning it as a threat to the environment.

“Pollution should never be the price of prosperity,” the Democratic candidate said. “We don’t have to degrade our environment in order to secure our future.”

“The vice president says he would rather protect this refuge than gain the energy, but this is a false choice,” countered Bush. “We can do both, taking out energy and leaving only footprints.”

The Republican candidate argued the Clinton-Gore administration’s record on energy issues was one of “inattention, misplaced priorities and last-minute ploys.”

The “ploy” he referred to was the president’s decision last week to tap the nation’s emergency oil stockpile — the Strategic Petroleum Reserve — in an effort to drive down decade-high prices.

Dueling Speeches, Dueling Plans

“Strong economic leadership demands swift and decisive action, even when that action is controversial,” Gore said, defending against accusations the move was politically motivated. “Any political heat that was generated is a lot less important than the heat families need this winter.”

Bush proposed a laundry list of measures aimed at helping Americans cope with rising costs, including a $1 billion expansion of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and $100 million to establish a home heating oil reserve for the Northeast, the region of the country hit hardest by high prices.

“Our country has a great and urgent need for a comprehensive energy policy with leadership from the president himself,” Bush said. “We are paying the price for seven and a half years without an energy policy.”

His plan also includes a host of long-term measures, including a $2 billion investment in “clean coal” technology research, a $1.4 billion increase in funding for the Department of Energy’s programs to promote energy conservation and a $1.4 billion in tax credits for electricity produced from renewable and alternative fuels.

In addition to tapping the reserve, Gore has proposed the creation of a permanent heating oil reserve, a temporary tax credit for oil distributors aimed at increasing heating oil supplies and $400 million in energy assistance for low-income families.

Framing the Energy Debate

Bush attempted to use the energy issue as part of his effort to portray Gore as a tax-and-spend, big-government liberal.

“He has supported higher energy taxes and higher energy prices, more regulation and more central controls,” Bush said. “My opponent believes the consumption of energy is the problem and must be discouraged — by taxes and regulations.”

Gore, meanwhile, continued his attempt to frame the debate over energy policy as part of a larger struggle between “the people” and entrenched special interests.

“I will fight for consumers who deserve a reliable, affordable supply of energy,” he said. “The fact is, oil company profits have more than doubled while consumers pay more at the pump.”

The vice president has accused Bush, who founded and ran a Texas oil company, of siding with the interests of his former industry. By taking the offensive on the energy issue, Bush has sought to turn what his opponent sees as a political vulnerability into a virtue.

“We face a fundamental choice on the environment and energy policy in this election,” Gore said.

On that point, the two candidates are in agreement.

“Americans are concerned … about paying their bills in the winter to come,” Bush reminded voters as he concluded his remarks. “But before the cold of December comes November, and one day of decision.”