How McCain and Obama would address energy issues

The candidates share a goal of reducing dependence on foreign oil and promoting development of domestic energy sources, but offer different ways to get there:

NUCLEAR POWER

John McCain advocates building 45 nuclear power plants by 2030, and 100 eventually. Barack Obama is open to expanding nuclear energy but says security, waste and defense concerns must be addressed first.

OFFSHORE DRILLING

McCain wants to let states decide whether to allow oil and gas exploration off their coasts. Obama says he is open to limited coastal drilling as part of a broader energy compromise.

VEHICLE EFFICIENCY

Obama calls for putting

1 million plug-in hybrid cars that can travel up to 150 miles per gallon on the road by 2015 -- part of a $150-billion decadelong program to promote energy-saving technologies and cleaner energy sources. He supports a $7,000 tax credit for purchase of advanced- technology vehicles. McCain proposes a $300-million prize for a next-generation car battery and a $5,000 tax credit for purchase of cars with zero carbon emissions.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Obama proposes requiring utilities to generate 10% of their electricity from renewables, such as solar and wind power, by 2012, and 25% by 2025. McCain in 2005 voted against a similar measure. Opponents argued that such a standard should be left to states and could drive up utility costs in regions without bright sunshine or strong wind. Obama favors expanding home-grown biofuels in the nation's gas supply, from 36 billion gallons to 60 billion gallons a year by 2030, with the increase coming from nonfood sources such as switch grass and wood chips. McCain has called for ending ethanol subsidies.

COAL

Both support efforts to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants, which generate about half of U.S. electricity but are a major source of greenhouse gas. McCain wants to spend $2 billion a year to reduce emissions. Obama wants to work with private industry to develop five "first-of-a-kind commercial-scale" coal-fired plants that would capture carbon dioxide emissions.

TAXES

Obama favors a windfall profits tax on oil companies. McCain opposes it.

Source: Times research