All three potential replacements have promoted the importance of “affordable” and “reliable” energy as well as clean energy, said Nick Loris, vice president of public policy at the conservative climate firm C3 Solutions. And they’ve all favored greater energy production on U.S. lands, including mining critical minerals for clean energy technologies.
One such difference could be in relation to biofuels policy, noted Loris. Thune has been very pro-ethanol, supporting the corn industry and opposing biofuel blending exemptions for small refiners. Barrasso, who is more supportive of small oil and gas operators, supports exemptions for small refiners.
“It may feed into a larger conversation about the future use of corn-based ethanol as an environmental policy given the skepticism from many environmental NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] and as there are stronger pushes for electrification,” Loris said.