Senator Santorum does not believe in man-made global warming. In 2011, he referred to the notion that man was changing the climate as patently absurd. He opposes cap-and-trade legislation, stating that it would destroy a state like Pennsylvania.
Senator Santorum supports all manners of energy production. He is a strong advocate for increased oil and gas exploration and increased drilling for oil and natural gas. This includes drilling in ANWR and the outer continental shelf. He opposes the viewpoint that government should chose which resources the people are allowed to use.
All Right Magazine Interview
On January 8, 2010 Senator Santorum was interviewed by All Right Magazine and asked about cap-and-trade. He stated that the legislation would destroy a coal state like Pennsylvania.
ALL RIGHT MAGAZINE: What would Cap-and-Trade do to a coal and steel state like Pennsylvania? Might it have electoral implications?
SENATOR SANTORUM: Absolutely. That bill would destroy a coal state like Pennsylvania. Over tens of thousands of Pennsylvania families are directly or indirectly impacted by the coal industry. It is frightening just how focused the President and Congress are on destroying this industry. Rather than focusing on energy technology, this Congress is trying to recklessly eliminate an entire source of energy. There’s a reason why the United States is called the Saudi Arabia of coal, and it’s because we have decades of coal reserves that can be utilized for electricity generation and coal-to-liquid fuel technology. Not only is this an energy issue, but it is an economic and national security issue.
Campaign Event
In an undated campaign event, Senator Santorum outlines his views on energy production, regulation, drilling, and reducing the cost of gas.
Fox News Appearance
In June of 2011, Senator Santorum appeared on Fox News with Greta Van Susteran. When discussing energy, he is asked about a recent article where he is quoted as supporting the end of ethanol subsidies.
VAN SUSTEREN: We have 30 seconds left. You are quoted in this article as saying Iowa is critical. You think you should phase out the ethanol subsidies in five years, a major stink bomb in the state.
SANTORUM: The people here, ethanol has gotten a bad rap in the sense people say it can't be competitive. I've learned a lot about the industry. They've made tremendous strides. It is a very efficient way of producing fuel. I know people say you are crazy subsidies it would go away. Watch, the subsidies are going to go away. Ethanol has turned the corner technologically, and they are going to survive this and do well. I think what Tim Pawlenty and I propose will in my case more so put them on a path to make them sustainable over the long term.
Rush Limbaugh Appearance
In June of 2011, Senator Santorum appeared on the Rush Limbaugh radio show and discussed global warming and energy policy. He stated that the idea of man-made global warming was patently absurd.
Limbaugh: And we're back, Rush Limbaugh here with Rick Santorum, Republican seeking the presidential nomination. Mitt Romney in his announcement earlier this week in New Hampshire said, yes, he believes there is global warming, and, yes, he thinks human beings are contributing to it. Do you?
Santorum: I believe the earth gets warmer, and I also believe the earth gets cooler, and I think history points out that it does that and that the idea that man through the production of CO2 which is a trace gas in the atmosphere and the manmade part of that trace gas is itself a trace gas is somehow responsible for climate change is, I think, just patently absurd when you consider all of the other factors, El Nino, La Nina, sunspots, you know, moisture in the air. There's a variety of factors that contribute to the earth warming and cooling, and to me this is an opportunity for the left to create -- it's a beautifully concocted scheme because they know that the earth is gonna cool and warm. It's been on a warming trend so they said, "Oh, let's take advantage of that and say that we need the government to come in and regulate your life some more because it's getting warmer," just like they did in the seventies when it was getting cool, they needed the government to come in and regulate your life because it's getting cooler. It's just an excuse for more government control of your life, and I've never been for any scheme or even accepted the junk science behind the whole narrative.
…
Limbaugh: I have a minute and a half. You ever ask yourself where the American people are politically? Do you ever fear the American people just maybe want a European socialist country, that they'd rather be dependent on government? Does that worry you?
Santorum: Does it worry me? Well, you know, Rush, 'cause you combat it every day with the popular culture and the media and academic institutions, that gets pounded away every day into the minds of our young people, and I don't know how many times I've listened on your show where people said, "You know, you opened, the scales fell from my eyes. It's finally making sense to me. I understand all of these lies I've been told." You tell people lies enough and you indoctrinate them enough, of course I've got grave concerns and that's one of the reasons I'm doing this is because I think we need -- look, the person who's been able to win the presidency since the age of television has had one thing in common. They've been the best communicator in the race. We need someone like a Rush Limbaugh who can communicate and can touch the soul of Americans and can reach out across the radio and television and paint a vision that helps drop those scales, that can remind people what a great country we are and that it's a great country because we believe in free people and the ability of free people to provide for themselves, their family, their community, and the God they love. That's what America is about, and we can with get back to that. We need to begin to believe in ourselves instead of the having someone tell us that they need to believe in him, the anointed one to provide for them.
Limbaugh: Rick, thanks for your time. Your passion is infectious. It really is.
New Hampshire Debate
In June of 2011, Senator Santorum participated in the Presidential debate in New Hampshire. He was asked about ethanol subsidies and stated that he opposed such subsidies.
MCELVEEN: Thanks very much, John. Timely issue. Question for Senator Santorum. The Senate tomorrow is going to be voting on possibly abolishing the ethanol tax, effective July 1st (inaudible) major impact on our friends in another early voting state in Iowa. They grow corn. This is a move that would basically remove tax credits worth $6 billion. Question to you is, do you support abolishing?
SANTORUM: Yeah, I actually had proposed that we can phase out the ethanol subsidy, which is the blender's credit, over a five-year period of time. I also proposed, as part of helping him in that transition -- one other thing. I also phase out the tariff on ethanol coming into this country over that five-year period of time.
One of the issues for the ethanol industry is distribution networks. So I would take half of that credit every year, 4.5 cents, and use it to help expand distribution for E-85 in other areas of the country. And that all would be shut down in five years.
And I say that because I think the ethanol industry -- I voted against ethanol subsidies my entire time in Congress. But I will tell you, the ethanol industry has matured greatly, and I think they are actually capable of surviving and doing quite well going forward under that -- under that plan.
Iowa Campaign Event - Subsidies
In June of 2011, Senator Santorum told a group of Iowa farmers that he opposed ethanol subsidies and that the industry had come far enough to stand on it's own.
My position is that we should phase out all energy subsidies and create a level playing field.
This is an industry that has come a long way and has not done a very good job of telling its story about how competitive ethanol actually is in the energy mix.
Des Moines Register Interview
In August of 2011, Senator Santorum was interviewed by the Des Moines Register. He was asked about drilling and states that there is no place that drilling shoulld be outlawed, including ANWR. He states that the current administration views the government's role as determining what resources people are allowed to use.
Michigan Economic Debate
On November 10, 2011 Senator Santorum participated in the Michigan Economic Debate. He was asked about subsidies for energy and states that he opposes all subsidies.
CRAMER: Senator Santorum, I want to talk about a high-quality problem our country has.
I just came back from North Dakota. We have made the largest oil discovery in a generation there. Not only is it a -- the find a big step toward creating energy independence, it stands to create as many as 300,000 jobs. But what the guys tell me up there is that they can't handle the rush without federal help. Would you favor incentives, incentives to get workers and businesses to where the jobs are to support this boom?
SANTORUM: No, because we have done it in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has Marcellus Shale. It took a while for us to ramp up, but we're drilling 3,000 to 4,000 wells.
The price of natural gas, because of Marcellus Shale, which is the second largest natural gas find in the world, has gone from $12 to $3.65. And we let the marketplace work. So, no, we didn't have the federal government come in and bail us out.
I want to make the point about manufacturing jobs again, because if you're -- if you're talking about creating jobs that trickle down, I agree with Newt. We have folks who have innovators. But he always -- he talked about innovators that -- that created jobs for blue- collar workers. The unemployment rate among non-college-educated is well into the double digits in America. It's 4 percent or 5 percent for people who have college degrees.
The reason I put forth this manufacturing plan is not just so we can say "Made Here in America," that we can create opportunities for everyone in America, including those that don't have that college skill set, people who built this country, like my grandfather, who was a coal miner. So -- so that is a very important part that Republicans, unfortunately, are not talking about.
We need to talk about income mobility. We need to talk about people at the bottom of the -- of the income scale being able to get necessary skills and rise so they can support themselves and a family. And that's what manufacturing does, and that's why I'm laser-beam focused on it.
2012 Presidential Campaign Website Statements
Tap America's vast domestic resources to power our 21st Century economy
Rick Santorum believes we need to stop being naïve, put aside our dreams of "green jobs," and focus on the great domestic resources at our disposal. This means we need an all-of-the-above energy policy that utilizes oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy to power our economy and empower the American worker. To do this, we must start by eliminating the Obama Administration's roadblocks to oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, along the Outer Continental Shelf, and onshore - including in ANWR. Furthermore, no new natural gas regulations, such as those being debated by Congress, should be enacted. The states are regulating the natural gas industry and there is no reason for the federal government to get involved. Federal regulation for federal regulation's sake serves no purpose - and in this instance it not only impedes job growth, but weakens our national security.
Voting Record
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006
The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 was an attempt to open up more areas of the Gulf of Mexico for oil drilling. It passed the Senate with broad support in a 72-25 vote. However, it was not raised in the House. Rick Santorum voted in favor of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.
Rick Santorum voted in favor of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.
Amendment - Reduction of Oil Dependence
In June of 2005, the Senate voted on an amendment to reduce oil importation in the US by 40% by 2025. The would have raised the original goals set in the bill form a 1 million barrel per day reduction to a 7.6 million barrel per day reduction. This would most likely be achieved through increased CAFE standards of 78 miles per gallon in cars and a 185-percent increase in light trucks. The voted failed 47-53. Rick Santorum voted against the amendment.
Rick Santorum voted against the amendment.
Amendment - ANWR Fast Track
In March of 2003, the US Senate voted on an amendment to prevent fast-tracking of drilling in ANWR. The amendment passed 52-48. Rick Santorum voted against the amendment and thus supported ANWR drilling.
Rick Santorum voted against the amendment and thus supported ANWR drilling.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge amendment
In April of 2002, the Senate voted on an amendment to allow ANWR to be opened up for drilling. The full amendment was a separate piece of legislation that dictated the amount of land to be leased, the amount to be reimbursed to native Alaskans, an amount to be traded with Israel, and numerous other provisions. The amendmnent failed to pass the Senate 46-54. Rick Santorum voted in favor of the amendment to open up ANWR to drilling.
Rick Santorum voted in favor of the amendment to open up ANWR to drilling.
Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation
This representative has not been identified as sponsoring or cosponsoring significant legislation related to this title.
