Reid is meeting with his Democratic caucus on Thursday to talk about what may be included in the bill. A bill is seen as key priority for the Obama Administration but a number of lawmakers say time is running out in the legislative calendar and votes are not there for a broad package.
The following are highlights of legislation introduced in the Senate that may contribute language to the final package.
Sponsor: John Kerry, Democratic Senator from Massachusetts; Joe Lieberman, Independent Senator from Connecticut
Status: Draft bill
* Sets a cap-and-trade system for utility carbon pollution permits
* Places a tax on carbon emissions by large pollutants
* Aims to reduce carbon emissions 17 percent by 2020, more than 80 percent by 2050
National Energy Efficiency Enhancement Act of 2010 (S. 3059)
Sponsor: Jeff Bingaman, Senate Democrat from New Mexico; Lisa Murkowski, Senate Republican from Alaska; eight more senators
Status: Energy and Natural Resources Committee held hearings
* Boosts Energy Department program to increase energy efficiency of appliances
* Battles carbon emissions through better efficiency
* Builds on Bingaman’s earlier bill: S. 1462
American Clean Energy and Leadership Act (S. 1462)
Sponsor: Jeff Bingaman, Senate Democrat from New Mexico
Status: Approved by committee and placed on Senate calendar
* Places carbon emissions cap on utilities
* Creates credit trading programs for utilities
* Formulates energy efficiency standards for appliances, buildings and lighting
Oil Independence for Stronger America Act (S. 3601)
Sponsor: Jeff Merkley, Democratic Senator from Oregon; Tom Carper, Democratic Senator from Delaware; Michael Bennet, Democratic Senator from Colorado; Tom Udall, Democratic Senator from New Mexico
Status: Referred to Finance Committee
* Sets plan to reduce oil use by 8 million barrels a day and eliminate overseas oil imports by 2030
* Beefs up electric vehicle production
* Forms National Council on Energy Security
Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010 (S.3442)
Sponsor: Byron Dorgan, Democratic Senator from North Dakota; Lamar Alexander, Republican Senator from Tennessee; Jeff Merkley, Democratic Senator from Oregon
Status: Approved by Energy and Natural Resources Committee
* Aims to put 400,000 plug-in electric cars on road in three years
* Creates incentives for purchase of electric cars
* Provides $1.5 billion toward electric battery R&D
Practical Energy and Climate Plan Act of 2010 (S. 3495)
Sponsor: Richard Lugar, Republican Senator from Indiana; Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator from South Carolina; Lisa Murkowski, Republican Senator from Alaska
Status: Energy and Natural Resources Committee held hearings
* Sets ground for continuous gradual increase of fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars
* Creates national building energy efficiency standards, enforces standards for appliances
* Provides greater loans for new nuclear plants
Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal (CLEAR) Act (S.2877)
Sponsor: Maria Cantwell, Democratic Senator from Washington; Susan Collins, Democratic Senator from Maine
Status: In Finance Committee
* Aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020, 83 percent by 2050
* Caps emissions from large fossil-fuel producers
* Streams funds from sale of emissions permits toward clean energy R&D, private citizen refunds
Article compiled by Alina Selyukh; edited by Lisa Shumaker; appearing courtesy Reuters
