US would-be president Mitt Romney has suggested he would end wind energy subsidy if he came to power in a challenge to President Obama’s own backing of the renewable energy, according to reports.

As the run-up to US presidential elections later this year heats up, the Romney campaign earlier this week signalled the Republican nominee is opposed to renewing a tax break for wind power in the United States.

However just days after the comments, the US Senate passed a one-year extension of tax credits for wind power with the help of some Republican senators.

Mr Romney’s campaign around energy focuses on making the most of America’s domestic oil and gas as well as more investment in nuclear power.

His campaign website is critical of “steering investment” towards “politically favored approaches”, referring to the “failure of windmills and solar plants to become economically viable or make a significant contribution to our energy supply”.

The presidential nominee last week stumbled into a diplomatic gaffe on a visit to the UK by criticising the organisation of the London Olympics. He was forced to backtrack after dismissive comments from David Cameron, the British Prime Minister and London’s Mayor Boris Johnson.