Environment, Energy Policies for Herman Cain Based on Private Sector (ContributorNetwork)

Republican candidate Herman Cain's policy on energy and the environment shares a similar theme as his views on other policy issues. Primarily, less government and more private sector is the way to achieve energy independence. In the spirit of smaller government, Cain has not had much of a stance on environmental issues, other than how particular legislation is burdensome on the economy and consumers.

Cain on Global Warming

In an interview with CBS News, Cain made it quite clear that he does not believe in global warming. He does believe that we are experiencing climate change, but does not believe it is a crisis. His belief that global warming does not exist and that whatever climate change we are experiencing is not a crisis leads him to oppose the cap-and-trade bill.

He even characterized Chris Christie as being too liberal for the conservative base because of his views on global warming, among others. Governor Christie has referred to climate change as being partially man-made and real in the past.

Cain and Drilling

When the American Energy Protection Act of 2008 was being discussed, Cain wrote an article expressing his support for the bill. The bill, which was defeated by Democrats, would have allowed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Outer Continental Shelf. According to Cain, this would have "opened access to about 24 billion barrels of oil, which is enough to keep America running for five years with no foreign imports, while other energy technologies are being developed."

At the 2011 GOP debate in South Carolina, Cain was asked about high gas prices. He believes that "we have all of the resources we need in this county to establish energy independence if we had the leadership." Specifically, Cain believes that the speculation on oil prices would end if "were serious about energy independence" and used our own oil resources.

Cain's Attack on the EPA and Regulation

Similar to many of Cain's other policy choices, he believes the government is too involved in regulation of the environment and that oppressive regulation is hampering the economy. At the 2011 Tea Party debate in Florida, Cain expressed his opinion that, if elected, he would "start with an EPA that's gone wild." In his opinion, a regulatory reduction committee would be necessary to cut back on the oppressive regulations that Cain believes prevent the market from making choices.

At the Google GOP debate in Florida, Cain said that the EPA has "a regulation that goes into effect January 1, 2012 to regulate dust." He believes this to be evidence of how far the EPA has gone. He suggested that we "eliminate all of the things they have right now and then start rebuilding a responsible EPA."

Cain is also not a proponent of ethanol subsidies. It is his belief that these subsidies are a way for the government to "pick and choose industries it favors" and that they do little to help our efforts to find energy alternatives. Instead, Cain would rather see the market dictate the winners and losers. He believes that if "alternative energy sources are found to be inexpensive, safe and plentiful, then American consumers will choose to purchase them."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111013/us_ac/10186717_environment_energy_policies_for_herman_cain_based_on_private_sector

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