Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce says he was "surprised" by the party youth wing's show of support for an emissions intensity scheme, a position at odds with the group's parliamentary leaders.

At their annual conference at the weekend, the NSW Young Nationals backed a resolution for an EIS, which would encourage lower-emissions energy generation. Deputy Prime Minister Mr Joyce is a staunch backer of coal-fired power. He has opposed putting a price on carbon and expressed scepticism about the science of climate change.

"I could show you a whole range of resolutions bringing back capital punishment and a whole range of things," Mr Joyce told Sky News, saying he welcomed party debates, if not the outcomes.

He ruled out adopting such a scheme into federal party policy and said his focus was on energy affordability and attracting industry to regional areas.