Senators huddle over competing climate change plans

Architects of competing Senate climate change plans met Tuesday as behind-the-scenes talks continue over legislation that advocates of greenhouse gas limits are struggling to keep alive in 2010.

Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are trying to craft a compromise climate and energy bill, and they met in the afternoon with Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).

Cantwell and Collins introduced a so-called cap-and-dividend approach in December. Kerry, Graham and Lieberman are hoping to blend emissions caps with energy provisions including expanded offshore drilling and new subsidies for nuclear power.

“They [Cantwell and Collins] have an approach. I respect it because it has the same goal that we have, which is to do something about global warming, and it does put a price on carbon,” Lieberman said before the meeting. “This is our attempt to reach out with them and see if we can find common ground.”

Graham and Kerry have recently said the structure of their plan remains under discussion, although Lieberman said Tuesday that “I think it will be cap-and-trade.” Discussions have included a cap-and-trade approach that covers fewer industry sectors than the “economy-wide” House cap-and-trade plan that passed in June.

Lieberman said the meeting was just one of many that he, Kerry and Graham are having with lawmakers and other groups. He noted talks last week with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and a separate session with officials from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"We are really working hard to get something done this year and we are prepared to compromise,” he said.