Senate Democrats abandon comprehensive energy bill

Senate Democrats today abandoned plans to pass an energy bill that caps emissions of carbon dioxide, saying Republicans refuse to support the measure. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says no Republican was willing to back a comprehensive energy bill, a development he calls “terribly disappointing.” Democrats have been trying for more than a year to pass a plan that charges utilities and other major polluters for their heat-trapping carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming. They are also abandoning a compromise plan to limit emissions only from utilities, which also failed to attract the 60 votes needed to advance it in the 100-member Senate. Reid and other Democrats said they would focus on a narrower bill that responds to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and improves energy efficiency. “We’ve always known from day one that to pass comprehensive energy reform, you’ve got to have 60 votes,” says Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the bill’s lead sponsor. “As we stand here today we don’t have one Republican vote.” Kerry spoke at a Capitol news conference with Reid and White House energy adviser Carol Browner. Browner says President Barack Obama continues to support comprehensive energy reform that includes a cap on carbon emissions, but supports Reid’s decision to go forward with a narrower bill. Reid says the new bill will likely focus on holding BP responsible for the gulf spill, as well as ways to improve energy efficiency and promote land and water conservation.