Gov. Perry launches "all of the above" energy policy. Or is it "all of the below?"

In Texas, Governor Rick Perry unveiled the energy plank of his overall Presidential election platform, in which the campaign wrote:

“I believe in an “all of the above” energy plan that encourages the development of all our conventional and renewable sources. I will not tolerate the federal bureaucracy’s war on natural gas and coal generation – which are responsible for two-thirds of American electricity generation – because America needs all forms of energy to keep prices stable and meet the demand of our growing population.” Specifically, Gov. Perry called for the elimination of all “subsidies and mandates that punish consumers and skew the energy marketplace, leveling the playing field for all energy industries; Eliminate as many issue-specific subsidies and tax credits as possible; Do not issue new specific tax incentives for energy development; Allow existing specific tax incentives to expire as scheduled; Industry-wide tax incentives for research and development will remain in place under comprehensive tax reform.”

Daniel J. Weiss, Senior Fellow and Director of Climate Strategy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, replied (in part): “Gov. Rick Perry’s energy agenda is the “Oil Above All plan” gone wild. It would allow oil companies to drill in some of our most precious places protected for our children. He justifies it by repeating Big Oil’s phony job creation numbers debunked by the Washington Post. The Perry plan would undo safeguards from deadly smog, acid rain, mercury, and other pollution. And it ignores a clean tech future while returning to a fossil fuel past. It is of little surprise that the Perry Petroleum Pollution Plan would continue to funnel billions of taxpayer dollars to big oil companies through subsidies, while eliminating incentives for American wind and solar companies to grow. The Perry plan should be stamped “Made By Big Oil.”

In Washington, American Coalition for Ethanol Executive Vice President Brian Jennings said: “While many say they support an “All of the above” energy strategy, policy recommended and supported by some candidates often seem to be “all of the below” strategies, focusing only on more drilling in more places to try boost job numbers. We need to remember that ethanol production has already contributed to hundreds of thousands of jobs in the US, and will continue to do so as long the EPA is not prevented from allowing consumers the option of using 15% ethanol-blended fuel, and as we continue to install more blender pumps and build more flex-fuel vehicles.”