GOP win puts the brakes on energy, climate bills

WASHINGTON — The election that put Republicans in control of the House and weakened Democrats' hold on the Senate also slammed the door on sweeping energy, oil spill and climate change legislation for at least the next two years.
But political leaders vowed Wednesday to seek consensus on some smaller proposals, including initiatives to expand natural gas production, give a boost to nuclear power and advance so-called clean coal technology.
Even though nationwide caps on greenhouse gas emissions are too controversial to pass the new Congress, President Barack Obama said Wednesday lawmakers can move the country toward cleaner energy sources by focusing on those smaller issues.
"When it comes to something like energy, what we're probably going to have to do is say here are some areas where there's just too much disagreement between Democrats and Republicans. We can't get this done right now," Obama said. "But let's not wait. Let's go ahead and start making some progress on the things that we do agree on."
Obama added there may be "ways that we can make progress in the short term and invest in technologies in the long term that start giving us the tools to reduce greenhouse gases."
Republicans have made clear they will emphasize traditional energy sources during the next two years. For instance, the presumed House Speaker, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, has declared he wants to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources by expanding domestic production of oil and natural gas.
And the top Republican in the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said Wednesday that Congress and Obama can find common ground on proposals to expand nuclear power and give a boost to clean coal technology.
Environmentalists and energy industry leaders said the germ for compromise could come from shared hopes of reviving the nation's ailing economy.
"It's a good place to start. Everyone is concerned about getting the economy going again," said Wesley Warren, director of programs for the NRDC Action Fund, an environmental advocacy group.
Congress could try to spur job growth and give a boost to emerging technologies by offering tax credits for consumers who buy fuel-efficient cars and imposing a nationwide mandate for utilities to use more renewable power.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/7278169.html