Washington - The Senate's debate on climate change legislation shifted into high gear on Tuesday as President Barack Obama's administration took its case for action before the chamber's environment committee. Cabinet members from the departments of energy, interior, environment and transportation called on the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee to pass legislation that would for the first time force US companies to limit their greenhouse-gas emissions.
The so-called cap-and-trade bill faces an uphill battle as many senators, including some left-leaning Democrats from coal-producing states, remain fearful of its impact on the world's largest economy. Some moderate Republicans have recently warmed to the effort amid concessions on nuclear energy and drilling for oil off the US coast.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu warned the US was falling behind other countries in producing renewable energy alternatives. A bill that puts a price on the carbon emissions of companies would help the US shift away from its dependence on fossil fuels.
"When the starting gun sounded on the clean energy race, the United States stumbled," Chu testified before the committee. "But I remain confident that we can make up the ground."
The committee plans to vote on the legislation on November 3, bringing it before the full Senate. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill earlier this year.
But even administration officials appear resigned that the bill will not be approved by the full Congress before December's UN climate summit in Copenhagen.
Many conservative Republicans derided the bill as an "energy tax" that would impose an undue burden on the economy as it recovers from a deep recession. Some Democrats expressed similar worries.
"We all are concerned about job loss," said Senator Arlen Specter, a Republican-turned-Democrat. "My state, Pennsylvania, is a microcosm: It has been built upon coal and steel and it is critical that any legislation take into account those factors."
