Palin rips Obama energy policy as 'social engineering'

During her first foreign trip in 2011, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) slammed President Obama's green-energy policy as a "social engineering" project that hurts the U.S. economy.

Palin — a potential 2012 presidential candidate — said that she favors an "all of the above" energy plan that includes domestic oil drilling and nuclear power. Without mentioning it by name, she criticized the Obama administration for restricting domestic drilling and said that the president's green jobs agenda is fatally flawed.

"This push for green energy at the expense of conventional, reliable sources is not a credible energy policy," Palin said during her address at the India Today Conclave in the capital city of New Delhi.

The 2008 vice presidential nominee's visit to India stirred speculation that she would enter the 2012 race, and her speech indicated that she would use energy as a wedge issue against Obama should she choose to run for president.

The former Alaska governor touted her knowledge of energy issues, rattling off her accomplishments as governor and before that as an energy regulator in her home state. 

Her speech comes after Obama's energy policies have come under withering criticism from many Republicans amid a spike in gas-and-oil prices.

The president has called for a safety review of U.S. nuclear power facilities in the wake of Japan's nuclear crisis. Obama has not, however, called for a moratorium on new nuclear power projects.

"Energy is the key," Palin said. "I'm a true believer in environmental conservation and stewardship of the land. ... I am as a conservationist in favor of an all of the above approach when it comes to energy."