OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Obama-Romney showdown arrives

By Ben Geman and Zack Colman - 10/03/12 06:21 PM ET

STATE OF PLAY: The collision between President Obama and Mitt Romney over energy and the environment will likely be on display Wednesday night at their first debate.

Romney has made criticism of White House energy policies a pillar of his campaign against Obama, casting regulations issued on the president’s watch as harmful to coal and other fossil fuels.

E2-Wire predicts those criticisms will continue at their showdown in Denver, which will focus on domestic policy.

But the president hasn’t shied away from the topic on the stump, touting oil-and-gas production increases to rebut claims that he’s stymieing energy projects.

Obama has gone on offense by seeking to tether Romney to “Big Oil” and accusing him of turning his back on green energy and efficiency.

Some items we’re keeping an eye on:

Wind energy: Romney wants to end tax credits for wind energy projects, casting them as part of what he calls a wrongheaded policy of “picking winners and losers” in energy markets.

Obama, meanwhile, is pushing Congress to extend the credits that are slated to lapse at year’s end. The Obama campaign has cast the expiration as harmful to states with wind industry-linked jobs — including the swing states of Colorado and Iowa.

Climate change: Romney mocked Obama’s climate goals in his speech accepting the GOP nomination in late August, and Obama returned fire a week later at the Democratic convention. Will they battle face-to-face over global warming?

China: Energy could surface if the candidates spar over China policy. Romney has repeatedly hit Obama as soft on China’s currency valuation and trade practices.

But the Obama administration has slapped new tariffs on imports of solar panels and wind towers from China, and the president — on security grounds — recently blocked a Chinese company’s attempt to acquire wind farms in Oregon.

Keep an eye on E2-Wire tonight for coverage of tussles on energy and climate policy, when and if the topics surface. And visit TheHill.com for breaking news and in-depth coverage of the 9 p.m. debate.

NEWS BITES:

GAO blesses oil payments disclosure rule's drafting

The Government Accountability Office has concluded that regulators dotted their i’s and crossed their t’s when writing rules that force oil companies to disclose payments to foreign governments.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules face oil, gas and mining industry opposition, and the powerful American Petroleum Institute has alleged the rulemaking process was legally deficient.

But GAO, in a letter to lawmakers that oversee the SEC, said the regulators “complied with the applicable requirements.”

The question will probably be settled in court. Observers expect industry litigation over the rules, which were finalized in August.

Coal exports rise

U.S. coal exports increased 24 percent in the first half of 2012, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The Financial Times pinned much of that jump on European power generators favoring cheaper coal to natural gas. More than half of U.S. coal exports went to Europe, the paper reports.

Meanwhile, the reverse happened in the United States — new supplies of natural gas drove prices down relative to coal, making more of the latter available for export.

ON TAP THURSDAY:

Energy execs, experts talk supply

The United States Energy Association will host a daylong forum Thursday about how to translate pledges of an “all of the above” energy policy — a campaign trail staple — into reality.

The event will feature remarks from an array of officials such as BrightSource Energy CEO John Woolard; Guy Caruso, who is the former head of the Energy Information Administration and is now an adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Energy Future Holdings CEO John Young; and others.

Click here for more on the National Press Club event.

GridWeek powers on with Energy, Commerce officials

GridWeek, a major electric utility and technology conference, hits its last day Thursday at the Washington Convention Center.

The event focuses on “smart” grid technology and the policies that support its development. “Smart” grid technology refers to a range of software, devices and equipment that transmit energy data to consumers in real time through Internet-based communication.

Speakers will include Patricia Hoffman, assistant secretary for the office of electricity delivery and energy reliability with the Department of Energy, and Matthew McGuire, director of the office of business liaison with the Department of Commerce.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Check out these stories that ran on E2-Wire on Tuesday ...

- EPA orders Canadian company to intensify river cleanup
- Labor looks to plug skills gap in energy workforce
- Poll: Majority unfamiliar with Solyndra
- Interior Department seeks climate change advisers

Please send tips and comments to Ben Geman, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and Zack Colman, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .