October 2012
Columns
Energy Issues
Policy or platform, that is the question (to paraphrase The Bard). On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, and elections for various lesser offices, it is important to recognize the difference. The candidates’ energy platforms are part of a larger platform that comprises a list of the actions that a candidate supports, to appeal to the general public for the purpose of securing his/her election to office. On the other hand, an energy policy is the manner in which a given entity or government has decided to address energy issues. To be sure, both presidential candidates have energy platforms that will be discussed elsewhere in this publication. But, does the U.S. have an energy policy? Despite what most of you might think, the answer is yes. To determine what it is and how it evolved, we have to wander back in history a bit.
