LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Republican Mitt Romney announced Thursday his plan to create 3 million jobs and more than $1 trillion in revenue through offshore oil drilling. Romney's plan for energy independence is designed to give states more control over energy production on federal land.
Romney pledged Thursday that his plan would make North America energy independent by 2020.
"This is not some pie in the sky kind of thing," Romney told voters in Hobbs, New Mexico, where the oil and gas industry is big business. "This is a real achievable objective."
Romney talked to FOX5's Dave Lawrence about the energy plan by satellite shortly after his announcement in New Mexico Thursday morning.
"It creates 3 million new jobs. It adds 500 billion dollars to the economy. It's great for our national security not to have to depend on OPEC or Venezuela for our oil," said Romney.
Romney's plan focuses on opening more areas for offshore oil drilling, including in the mid-Atlantic, where it is currently banned. He wants to give states power to establish all forms of energy production on federal lands, a significant shift in current policy that could face strong opposition in Congress.
His proposals make little mention of renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar, backed by President Barack Obama, who visited Las Vegas Wednesday.
"I think people in Nevada have a pretty good measure about how the president's policies have worked or not worked," Romney told FOX5.
Critics of Romney's plan say almost every U.S. presidential candidate has made plans for energy independence. Now though, Nevada voters seem more focused on jobs and education.
Romney says President Obama's plans for the economy haven't worked, telling FOX5 he feels like he's going to win Nevada.
"If I win Nevada there's a good shot that makes me the next president of the United States. So the people of Nevada are going to have a big say about the direction of the country," said Romney. "I think they want to have somebody who understands the economy and has a plan to actually get the economy going again as I do."
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