Democrats Pull the Plug on Climate Change Legislation, Slimmed Back Energy Bill Pending in Senate

Released August 2, 2010

Rather than the long-awaited measure capping greenhouse gases —or even a more limited bill directed only at electric utilities—U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced at the end of July that they will move forward on an energy-only bill that responds to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and contains some popular energy items.

Other energy provisions that will be part of the proposal include energy efficiency tax credits and Home Star, dubbed "cash for caulkers," that gives rebates to homeowners who retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient, and a bill that incentivizes the use of natural gas as fuel.

It appears that the Senate will likely spend only a day this week on the narrow oil-spill response bill that could stall because of a threatened Republican filibuster. The Senate is scheduled to take its recess starting August 6 until mid-September. It is likely that Senate will have to return to the oil-spill response bill following the August recess.