From the interview:

I think that the big arguments that I have with Governor Romney have to do with where we take this country forward. And it is my firm belief that somebody who wants to be president of the United States but is willing to try tax plans that won't create jobs and will definitely increase the deficit or increase burdens on the middle class, somebody who appears to have disdain for renewable, homegrown energy that has created thousands of jobs and is part of what is allowing us to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, somebody who believes that when it comes to Medicare that we should move towards a voucher system — that he is somebody who, for whatever reason, has not offered the kinds of solutions that are going to help America be strong in the future.



Obama also took aim at Romney’s opposition to extension of soon-to-expire tax credits that the wind industry calls vital to financing new projects.



The president listed his rival’s position among the “extreme” policies Romney would carry out that are favored by a number of House Republicans.



“He said that he would eliminate tax credits that are going to wind producers, even though we've doubled the production of wind energy. I suspect that he has to follow through on those commitments,” Obama said in the AP interview.

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The Hill has much more on the interview here.



The production tax credit for wind projects will expire at year’s end absent congressional action. It’s extension this year remains highly uncertain, and a Romney victory would lessen the chances of subsequent renewals if lawmakers re-up the credit in the current congressional session.



Romney says he favors federally funded basic research into green energy, but opposes subsidies and loan guarantees for specific technologies and projects.



Romney’s energy platform released Thursday calls for paring back regulations and speeding up permitting for energy projects, arguing this will benefit fossil fuels and renewable energy alike.



From the plan:

The same policies that will open access to land for oil, gas, and coal development can also open access for the construction of wind, solar, and hydropower facilities. Strengthening and streamlining regulations and permitting processes will benefit the development of both traditional and alternative energy sources, and encourage the use of a diverse range of fuels including natural gas in transportation. Instead of defining success as providing enough subsidies for an uncompetitive technology to survive in the market, success should be defined as eliminating any barriers that might prevent the best technologies from succeeding on their own.

