MCCAIN'S ENERGY & OIL STANCE

McCain has rejected even the weakest renewable energy programs.
Sen. McCain voted against giving increased funding to solar and renewable energy programs in 1994 and 1999. In 2005, he voted against a national renewable electricity standard (RES) that would have required utilities to get 10 percent of their electricity from alternative energy. Last year, he missed all of the renewable electricity votes. Sen. McCain supports giving billions of dollars in subsidies to the nuclear industry while actively opposing similar support for wind and solar energy. Renewable energy must be an essential part of any global warming plan, yet Sen. McCain has stood in the way of such progress throughout his career.

McCain has blown many opportunities to improve fuel efficiency standards.
Although increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles would decrease our dependence on foreign oil and help consumers save money at the pump, Sen. McCain has repeatedly voted against raising efficiency standards. Even today, with record oil and gas prices, Sen. McCain still opposes setting a specific target for an increase in fuel efficiency standards. Further, Sen. McCain has proposed extending the Bush administration’s policy of rewarding Big Oil, even at a time when they are enjoying record profits, by proposing $3.8 billion in new tax breaks to oil companies.

Sen. McCain, like President Bush, supports measures that fall far short of where the science says we need to be.
Despite early leadership on global warming, McCain’s policies fall short of what science shows is necessary. The international scientific consensus indicates that the U.S., along with other developed nations, must reduce emissions at least 80 percent by 2050 to have any chance of averting the worst impacts of climate change.

McCain and Bush do oil company bidding.
Even though in May, Sen. McCain said drilling off our coasts and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will do nothing to lower gas prices, just six weeks later he decided to pander to oil companies and called for drilling off our protected coasts. Fellow Republican, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said: “Anyone who tells you that this will bring down our gas prices immediately or any time soon is blowing smoke. America is so addicted to oil it will take us years to wean ourselves from it and to look for new ways to feed our addiction is not the answer.”

McCain insists nuclear energy is a safe form of clean energy—as a long as it’s not in his backyard.
Sen. McCain has adamantly expressed his support for storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. However, when asked in an interview if he would be comfortable with nuclear waste traveling through Arizona to get to Yucca Mountain, he responded, “No, I would not.”

McCain’s support for tax breaks to Big Oil and nuclear show disdain for renewables.
Sen. McCain has failed to vote for opportunities to repeal at least $13 billion in subsidies for Big Oil implemented by Bush-Cheney, including a 2007 version to create a clean energy fund that failed by just one vote. His tax plan would generate an additional $3.8 billion in tax breaks for the five largest oil companies. He supports increasing massive subsidies for the nuclear power industry. He opposes any tax breaks for wind, solar and other forms of clean energy.

McCain opposes major efforts to protect clean water.
In Congress, Sen. McCain cast 10 votes against clean water, including against drinking water protection and enforcement, controlling microbes in water, and funds for water pollution control, and in favor of delaying funds for leaking underground storage tanks and allowing municipalities to set their own standards for toxic waste.


Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%).
Amendment to improve the energy security of the United States and reduce United States dependence on foreign oil imports by 40% by 2025. The amendment seeks to reduce usage by 7.6 million barrels of oil a day, out of a total usage of 20 million barrels of oil a day. [Energy Policy Act of 2005; Bill S.Amdt. 784 to H.R. 6 ; vote number 2005-140 on Jun 16, 2005; Source: ontheissues.org]

MISSED vote repealing tax breaks for oil companies.
In 2007, McCain was the ONLY senator to miss a vote on the energy bill repealing tax subsidies for oil companies. [H.R. 6, Vote #425, 12/13/07; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO to impose a windfall profits tax for oil companies and a tax rebate for working families.
Amendment would impose a temporary windfall profits tax on oil companies and use the proceeds to provide nonrefundable tax credits to working families. [S.Amdt. 2635, Vote# 341, 11/17/05; S.Amdt. 2587, Vote #331, 11/17/05; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO to elminate tax breaks for oil and natural gas companies.
Amendment would eliminate tax breaks for oil and natural gas companies related to depletion and drilling costs. [S.Amdt. 2782/HR. 776, Vote #159, 7/29/92; Source: aflcio.org]