Democratic incumbent President; IL Senator (2004-2008):
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- FactCheck: US Is biggest oil & gas producer, but privately. (Jan 2015)
- FactCheck: Wind & solar doubled, but now only 1.4% of energy. (Feb 2013)
- Gas was cheap in early 2009 because the economy collapsed. (Oct 2012)
- Oil companies had leases on public lands they weren't using. (Oct 2012)
- Develop 100-year natural gas supply; it's beneath our feet. (Sep 2012)
- FactCheck: Promised for 3 years to end oil industry subsidy. (Jan 2012)
- FactCheck: Oil dependence low; but gas prices highest ever. (Jan 2012)
- Cap-and-trade will cause electricity rates to skyrocket. (Dec 2011)
- De-facto moratorium on shallow as well as deepwater drilling. (Nov 2010)
- Offshore drilling ok if part of comprehensive energy package. (Aug 2009)
- One million 150-mpg plug-in hybrids on road by 2014. (Aug 2008)
- GovWatch: Opposes Yucca Mountain for nuclear waste storage. (Jun 2008)
- Nuclear power ok if we safeguard against waste & terrorism. (Sep 2007)
- 3-way win: economy, environment, & stop funding terror. (Jun 2006)
- Conserve, develop alternative fuels, increase efficiencies. (Oct 2004)
- Increase CAFE to 40 mpg. (Jun 2004)
- Reduce the consumption of energy and be more efficient. (Jan 2008)
Energy Independence
- FactCheck: Yes, more domestic oil, but due to new technology. (Jan 2014)
- Lowest oil imports and highest oil production in 16 years. (Oct 2012)
- Does anyone think Exxon-Mobil needs a subsidy? (Oct 2012)
- All-of-the-above approach to reduce foreign dependence . (Sep 2012)
- All-of-the-above energy; enough natural gas or 100 years. (Jan 2012)
- FactCheck: clean coal isn't ready; nuke waste is unresolved. (Jan 2011)
- Big promoter of clean coal technology & nukes. (Jan 2010)
- Let’s build a fuel-efficient car in America, not abroad. (Oct 2008)
- Ten years to eliminate dependence on foreign oil. (Oct 2008)
- $15B to free us from foreign oil in 10 years. (Oct 2008)
- FactCheck: Reluctant on nuclear power in past; now favors it. (Oct 2008)
- Drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. (Aug 2008)
- More Alaska oil & gas leases, plus new gas pipeline. (Aug 2008)
- Political climate at fault for failing energy independence. (Jul 2008)
- Raise fuel efficiency standards to reduce long-term demand. (Apr 2008)
- Fuel efficiency and Middle East stability help on fuel costs. (Oct 2007)
- Explore nuclear power as part of alternative energy mix. (Jul 2007)
- Stop sending $800M a day to Mideast dictators for oil. (Mar 2007)
- We cannot drill our way out of our addiction to oil. (Oct 2006)
- Free America from its dependence on foreign oil. (Jul 2004)
Global Warming
- Make technology work for us on climate change. (Jan 2016)
- 14 warmest years on record occurred in last 15 years. (Jan 2015)
- China has agreed with US; rest of world will now follow. (Jan 2015)
- FactCheck: Yes, US reduced CO2 tonnage, but that's only 6%. (Jan 2014)
- Debate is settled: climate change is a fact. (Jan 2014)
- Bipartisan market-based solution to climate change. (Feb 2013)
- We must do more to combat climate change. (Feb 2013)
- First-ever carbon pollution limits for new oil & coal plants. (Sep 2012)
- Cap-and-trade will make electricity prices skyrocket. (Feb 2012)
- New coal plants ok if they pay for greenhouse gas emission. (May 2010)
- Slash emissions from 5,972 mmt in 2005 to 4,957 mmt. (Apr 2010)
- Cap-and-trade: lower CO2 levels by fees on carbon emissions. (Nov 2009)
- History will pass judgment on our response to climate change. (Sep 2009)
- OpEd: Understands that US is biggest source of emissions. (Aug 2009)
- FactCheck: US imports less oil today than in 2005. (Feb 2009)
- All nations must act to reduce carbon emissions. (Jul 2008)
- Include clean coal in clean energy future. (Jul 2008)
- $150B investment over 10 years to reduce oil usage by 35%. (May 2008)
- Figure out how to sequester carbon and burn clean coal. (May 2008)
- GOP right on cap-&-trade: guidelines instead of bureaucracy. (Apr 2008)
- Reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. (Feb 2008)
- Aggressively address accelerating climate change. (Dec 2007)
- Cap-and-trade carbon emissions; raise CAFE standard. (Jun 2007)
- Cap-and-trade is more specific on reducing greenhouse gases. (Jan 2006)
- 20% nation’s power supply from renewable sources by 2020. (Sep 2004)
Green Energy
- Clean energy for climate change & creating new business. (Jan 2016)
- 7 years of investment in solar & wind nationwide. (Jan 2016)
- Natural gas is a "bridge fuel"; then go solar. (Jan 2014)
- Energy Security Trust: oil & gas tax funds green energy R&D. (Feb 2013)
- Invest in clean energy because China & Germany will. (Oct 2012)
- Doubled use of renewable energy; doubled car fuel efficiency. (Sep 2012)
- $90B for clean energy; biggest investment in history. (Sep 2012)
- 2009: Spark a clean energy transformation. (Feb 2012)
- Don't cede wind, or solar, or battery industry to foreigners. (Jan 2012)
- Clean energy on public lands, and for defense department. (Jan 2012)
- OpEd: Sunlight & water into fuel? Share info with the world. (Jan 2011)
- Subsidize clean energy by canceling oil subsidies. (Jan 2011)
- More incentives for clean energy, including nuclear. (Jan 2010)
- 2006: FutureGen is the future of coal, with carbon capture. (Nov 2009)
- $15B in clean energy; plus market-based cap on carbon. (Feb 2009)
- FactCheck: Chevy Volt uses Korean battery, but Ford's don't. (Feb 2009)
- Cellulosic ethanol more energy-efficient than corn-based. (Jan 2009)
- GovWatch: $150B for electric car batteries & new technology. (Jun 2008)
- Harness homegrown, alternative fuels like ethanol. (Feb 2007)
- Wants Detroit to build more hybrids & use more ethanol. (Oct 2006)
- Renewable Fuels Standard: require ethanol in fuel supply. (May 2004)
Voting Record
- Passed tax credit for installing E85 ethanol at gas stations. (Feb 2008)
- Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
- Voted YES on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
- Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
- Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR. (Nov 2005)
- Voted YES on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
- Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
- Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
- Sponsored bill for tax credit for providing 85% ethanol gas. (Apr 2005)
- Sponsored bill to notify public when nuclear releases occur. (Mar 2006)
- Sponsored bill raising CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018. (Jul 2006)
- Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)
- Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Jan 2007)
- Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness. (Nov 2007)
- Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. (Jan 2007)
- Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards. (Jan 2008)
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Written by
Daniel Biss on Energy & Oil
Jeanne Ives on Energy & Oil
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