ABQjournal: Campaign Issues 2004: Candidates Differ on Energy Production, Efficiency By Tania Soussan, Journal Staff Writer

Listen to President George Bush and Sen. John Kerry talk about energy issues and you might wonder what the difference is between the two candidates.

Both presidential candidates are pledging to tackle America’s dependence on foreign oil, reduce gasoline prices and expand domestic oil and natural gas production without harming the environment. …

But the candidates do part ways.

Bush is putting a heavier emphasis on increased domestic production, and a cornerstone of his plan to get more oil flowing is opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other federal land in the West to drilling. …

Kerry has been a vocal opponent of ANWR development in Alaska and once threatened a Senate filibuster on the issue.

Kerry’s energy plan focuses on dramatic improvements in fuel efficiency, clean fuels and renewable energy— including ambitious goals of 20 percent of fuels from clean sources and 20 percent of energy from renewables like wind and solar by 2020— with the help of billions of federal dollars.

“There is no way possible for our nation to drill its way out of this predicament,” Kerry said May 25 in Portland, Ore. “We have to invent our way out of this predicament.”

Bush proposes more modest investments and does not support large increases in fuel-efficiency standards. He has not set a renewable energy production target. And he blames Congress for stalling progress on his initiatives by not passing an energy bill. [mjh: Republicans control Congress] …

Kerry’s energy plan calls for a major reduction in the amount of gasoline used in America— both by improving vehicle fuel efficiency and by dramatically increasing the use of alternative fuels. …

Bush also wants to increase gasoline supplies by expanding oil refinery capacity with the help of changes in Clean Air Act regulations, now tied up in court challenges, that would allow refineries to upgrade without being forced to install new pollution controls but also without increasing emissions.