Words: Edwards opposes constructing new nuclear power plants and liquefied coal production. He supports real increases in CAFE standards and advocates an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. “We ought to cap carbon emissions in the United States. We ought to invest in clean alternative sources of energy. We ought to invest in carbon sequestration technology, in cold technology. We ought to ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war: to be willing to conserve.” He also advocates raising fuel standards to 45 mpg by 2016 and requiring oil companies to produce ethanol fuel.

Actions: Edwards voted FOR defunding renewable and solar energy (1999), AGAINST ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards (1999), AGAINST oil drilling in ANWR (2002), AGAINST terminating CAFE standards within 15 months (2002), and FOR the Bush administration’s energy policy (2003).

More about: Energy Policy, John Edwards.