Republican President Candidate Donald Trump speaks on TV during a debate with Democratic Candidate Kamala Harris
Letter from the US: Talk is cheap in US presidential election
History shows us that there is a long way to go from candidate proposals to policy implementation
Energy policy has a chequered history when it comes to the last 12 presidential elections. It played a significant role in some. In others, different matters pushed it out of the limelight. Over these 48 years, the key takeaway is that the agendas candidates discussed or promised during campaigns were seldom, if ever, implemented as originally proposed, if implemented at all. Energy was front and centre in the 1976 election as Jimmy Carter, the former Georgia governor, took on the incumbent Gerald Ford. A key pillar of Carter’s rhetoric was his claim the US lacked a coherent and effective energy policy. Ford, in contrast, blamed regulation for many of the nation’s energy-related problems. Af
Also in this section
28 March 2025
The Central Asian country is positioning itself as a low-carbon leader, but antiquated infrastructure and a dependence on Russia are holding it back
28 March 2025
MCEDD 2025 took place in Madrid this week with record attendance and a wide-ranging programme, reflecting the deepwater sector’s renewed momentum, strategic focus and accelerating technological innovation.
27 March 2025
Awards celebrate global innovation, leadership and achievement across the energy sector’s people, projects, technologies and companies.
26 March 2025
Well-functioning democracies are required for healthier economies and a thriving oil industry
