The energy policy platforms of Obama and Romney diverge in three main ways.

As the 2012 election approaches, energy has become a primary point of presidential contention. Both candidates have given major speeches on energy policy and devote significant space on their campaign websites to the issue. But unlike previous elections, today’s presidential candidates often dance around specifics.

As best as we can ascertain, the energy policy platforms of Obama and Romney diverge in three main ways:

• A planned vs. market energy economy,
• The importance of energy affordability, and
• Views on energy independence

Let’s examine each in turn.

Kenneth P. Green is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, where Elizabeth DeMeo is a research assistant.

The full text of this article is available on The American website.