Even though nine environmental groups collected close to 160,000 signatures advocating for Jim Lehrer to address environmental topics during the first presidential debate last week, he did not press the candidates for information on their policies.

After President Barack Obama's failed investment in the solar energy company, Solyndra, people have questioned Obama’s green policies, and Romney accused him of picking “losers” when it came to energy strategies.

Yet, Romney’s environmental ambitions invite skepticism as well. In his “Believe for America” plan, Romney expresses his ideas to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, a pipeline system designed to bring oil from Canada into the United States.  Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan explained to Republican supporters in Ohio that the Keystone XL Pipeline would generate thousands of new jobs.

Romney has also pledged to overturn many of the energy regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency and revive coal-burning power plants.  

“Believe in America” argues that green policies hurt the economy and states, “Green energy is capital-intensive and tends to displace labor… The Obama administration’s diversion of resources into green energy has occurred at a time when the traditional energy sector—oil, gas, coal, and nuclear—holds remarkable job-creating potential.”

John M. Broder of The New York Times detailed the difficulties Obama faced when he first attempted to change environmental policies while in office, such as receiving Congress’ approval, successfully revising laws and advantageous decisions made by courts that promote the president's goals.

Romney would face further challenges if the Democrats retain a majority in the Senate, as polls indicate they will. 

“The ability of any president is sharply limited on this type of issue,” elaborated Dr. Richard Somerville, a climatology expert who taught at UCSD and author of The Forgiving Air: Understanding Environmental Change. “I think that what Romney is saying on this topic is really just campaign hype.”

Romney’s and Obama’s environmental policies present a contrast between using fossil fuels versus using new energy sources and increased government control versus less.

If elected, it'll be closely watched whether Romney can keep his promises about the environment and the creation of jobs. Both candidates have been attempting to appeal to independent voters, and according to a recent poll by Yale and George Mason Universites, 61 percent of undecided voters identified climate change as an important factor when deciding for whom to vote. Environmental policy could be one of the tie-breaker in this close election. 

Reach Staff Reporter Summerset Thompson here.