Rockefeller concedes defeat in bid to block EPA climate rules

By Ben Geman - 12/17/10 05:00 PM ET

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), blaming Republicans, admitted defeat Friday in his long-shot bid to advance legislation this year that would delay looming Environmental Protection Agency climate change rules.

Rockefeller — who says the rules will harm his coal-heavy state — had vowed Thursday to try and force a vote on the measure, but now admits it’s on ice for the year.

“I have been reliably informed that long-time Republican proponents of my bill to suspend EPA regulations on greenhouse gas emissions have pulled their support for this year — so that they can gain some political advantage trying to take over this issue in 2011,” he said in a statement Friday.

“Momentum has been building on the Democratic side for my EPA delay bill, but this is of necessity a bipartisan proposal and it cannot proceed without strong Republican support and effort,” he added.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) months ago pledged to Rockefeller that he would seek to bring the measure up this year, but has equivocated in recent weeks.

EPA rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, refineries and other industrial facilities will begin phasing in at the beginning of next year. Rockefeller’s bill would block rules for stationary facilities for two years, but would allow vehicle emissions rules to remain in effect.

Rockefeller said he will try again to move the measure early in the new Congress.

“In the face of a January launch date, I think it is irresponsible to wait any longer — we must call a timeout on these regulations. But let me make clear, I will be back fighting hard for my two-year bill as my first order of business in the new Congress. In West Virginia and in other coal states across the country, our future is at stake,” he said.

Even if his plan had cleared the Senate, it's unlikely it would have surfaced in the House under Democratic rule. But ascendant House Republicans are also vowing to take aim at EPA climate rules when they take over next year.