Kerry climate blueprint watch – an update

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) today said he might release an outline next week of the compromise climate bill he’s crafting with two Senate colleagues.

Kerry along with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) hope to blend emissions limits with energy measures aimed at corralling wider support, including increased offshore drilling and greater support for nuclear power.

They had hoped to release an outline of their plan before the international climate talks in Copenhagen that run from Dec. 7-18.

Kerry, however, offered no firm timeline today for a blueprint.

“Possibly some time next week, depending on where we are,” Kerry told reporters when asked about timing. He said he planned to speak with Graham “so I am not just throwing out concepts and dates prior to having some kind of agreement.”

Graham said earlier today that “I don’t think we’ll have anything concrete before Copenhagen,” according to Bloomberg.

Kerry said he will attend the climate talks. “I intend to talk about what is happening here and what we are going to try and do,” he said.

President Obama plans to offer a provisional U.S. emissions reduction level in Copenhagen that is in the range 17 percent by 2020, a goal that is contingent upon what Congress ultimately decides.

The major climate bill the House approved in June includes that 2020 target. The Senate bill co-sponsored by Kerry and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) requires a 20 percent cut at that time. But several powerful lawmakers want that level scaled back.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) offered another reminder today that securing 60 Senate votes will be a challenge for any climate bill. He bristled at Obama’s proposed target. “The president comes out with 17 percent by 2020. That is not going to work for some of us in coal states who want to see a bill,” he said.