Senate Committee Passes Climate Bill

The Clean Energy Jobs bill advanced through a key committee this Thursday. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee successfully passed their version of the bill, despite a boycott of the vote by the panel’s Republicans. The bill will now be merged with legislation being written by five other Senate panels.

Meanwhile, Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced they are working on a “dual track” to assemble a new proposal they hope will gain Senate approval. Kerry and Graham said their approach would combine “aggressive reductions” in greenhouse gas emissions while spurring construction of nuclear power plants and allowing for more oil and gas exploration.

“We’re trying to find that sweet spot of a bill that will be good for the environment, good for business and make us energy independent,” Graham said Wednesday.

As climate legislation progresses in the U.S. Senate, President Obama told reporters on Tuesday that he and newly-reelected German Chancellor Angela Merkel had agreed to “redouble our efforts … to ensure that we create a framework for progress in Copenhagen.”

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3. Gulf Disaster Approaches End as Senate Again Delays Energy Bill, Climate Action Hotline 8.6.10
4. Senate Hearings on Climate and Energy Bill: Climate Action Hotline, Oct. 29
5. Gulf Oil Disaster Prompts Calls For Comprehensive Solution: President Obama and advocates press for new national climate and energy bill