Climate Change Plan has Setback in U.S. Energy Bill

A key Republican refused to back a plan by Senate Democrats to slow U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, casting doubt on whether the Senate can muster enough votes on Tuesday to approve a climate change measure.

As part of its debate of a broad bill to increase domestic energy supplies, the Senate is expected to consider proposals to reduce U.S. industries’ emissions of carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas linked to global warming.

Pete Domenici of New Mexico, Republican chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, said last week he might co-sponsor Democrat Jeff Bingaman’s plan to slow the growth of U.S. carbon emissions with an emissions trading program beginning in 2010.

But late Monday night, Domenici announced in a brief statement that he would not support the measure.
Reuters