White House to hold bipartisan talks on energy reform

From CNN.com:

Politicians and others are trying to use the disaster and devastation of the Gulf oil spill as a way to get people motivated to pass the energy reform bill this year. Usually this would not be pushed during an election year, but Senator Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who sits with the Democratic caucus, told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that he believes an energy bill "does have a chance" this year. He further stated that we need to put a price on carbon to let the private sector create the jobs and energy industries we need in the form of a carbon emissions cap on the energy utilities across the country.

How will it do? "There are about 50 Senators who want to vote for a strong, comprehensive energy bill that puts a price on carbon pollution," Lieberman said. "There are about 30 who are set against it and there are 20 undecided. You've got to get to 60 to pass anything in the Senate. We need half of the undecided and we can do it."

Traditional energy industries like the oil and coal producers oppose this cap-and-trade policy, but supporters say it is the best way to start to reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels which are responsible for most of the greenhouse gas emissions by the U.S. (the world's largest emitter per capita).

Senator Lieberman added that “…the less we depend on oil, the less chance there is of another environmental disaster like this."

Do you agree with Liebernam’s statement? Why or Why not? Let me know on my Facebook page or @ronideutch on Twitter.

Read the full article here.

GOP Blocks Tax & Renewable Energy Package

According to another article form the Associated Press, “for the fourth time this summer Republicans stopped the Senate from taking up wide-ranging legislation that extends tax breaks for teachers, businesses and parents and provides tax credits to an array of renewable energy entrepreneurs.

Major business groups, usual GOP allies, have implored Congress to act on the tax credits, many which expired at the end of last year or will run out at the end of this year. But for many Republicans, it's a matter or principle and politics: many oppose what they say are new tax increases to pay for parts of the package and nearly all say the Senate's only business now is acting on an energy bill that promotes drilling and other measures to boost domestic oil supply.

The White House, citing new taxes and other objections to the bill, threatened a presidential veto.

The vote Wednesday was 51-43, nine short of the 60 needed to begin floor debate.

‘All the Republicans want to do is not pay for anything and we know the House would not accept that,’ said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., anticipating the defeat.

But Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said his party sees a ‘need to dispose of the pending energy bill to help bring down the price of gas at the pump before turning to other matters.’

The bill would extend some $18 billion worth of renewable energy tax credits, helping out investors in wind and solar power, clean coal, plug-in electric vehicles and a variety of others.”