Print
Email
Share
Cite
Michael A. Levi analyzes Mitt Romney's energy plan, concluding that it has some reasonable ideas on supply but remains woefully incomplete.
Transition 2012
Speaker: Michael A. Levi, David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment and Director of the Program on Energy Security and Climate Change, Council on Foreign Relations
February 8, 2012
The winner of the U.S. presidential election will face at least three sets of energy challenges, says CFR's Michael Levi. The winner will have to continue to focus on reducing U.S. dependence on oil, he says, in order to make the economy less vulnerable to disruptions in oil markets.
At the same time, the president will also face "a different challenge" from previous presidents who had to worry about how to increase U.S. energy supplies. The recent increase in natural gas and oil production, Levi says, will require the next president to facilitate development in a way that maximizes economic payoffs but is also sustainable and addresses environmental concerns.
The president must also be prepared to face unexpected energy crises, Levi cautions. "The next president may face a disruption in another critical producing region, they may face a disruption associated with confrontation between the United States and Iran, they may face disruptions that are less acute, stemming from a rising demand for supply," he says. The critical challenge is that the president will have "a limited set of tools" with which to address these types of events, Levi says.
This video is part of Campaign 2012, a series of video briefings on the top foreign policy issues debated in the run-up to the 2012 elections.
Terms of Use: I understand that I may access this audio and/or video file solely for my personal use. Any other use of the file and its content, including display, distribution, reproduction, or alteration in any form for any purpose, whether commercial, noncommercial, educational, or promotional, is expressly prohibited without the written permission of the copyright owner, the Council on Foreign Relations. For more information, write publications@cfr.org.
Facebook Twitter LinkedInWhat effect would the fall of the Assad regime have on U.S. policy towards Syria?
Reforming U.S. Drone Strike Policies
The author analyzes the potentially serious consequences, both at home and abroad, of a lightly overseen drone program and makes recommendations for improving its governance.
The biggest threat to America's security and prosperity comes not from abroad but from within, writes CFR President Richard N. Haass in his provocative and important new book. More
Capitalism and Inequality: Why both the left and right get it wrong
General Stanley McChrystal on the U.S. war on terror
The U.S.-Pakistan alliance: Why it should end
subscribe nowPublished by the Council on Foreign Relations since 1922
Michael A. Levi analyzes Mitt Romney's energy plan, concluding that it has some reasonable ideas on supply but remains woefully incomplete.
Michael A. Levi says President Obama's critics say he has been a disaster for the energy industry, but the numbers tell a different story.
The winner of the U.S. presidential election will face at least three sets of climate challenges including reducing U.S. greenhouse gas...
Michael A. Levi says Republicans and Democrats alike have touted the energy sector as the key to solving the United States' employment...