Green groups praise emerging Senate climate plans

By Ben Geman - 03/19/10 03:42 PM ET

Twenty environmental groups jointly said Friday that they like what they’ve seen thus far of the Senate climate and energy plan that Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) are crafting.

The joint statement from the groups is a signal that a large swath of the environmental lobby is willing to accept industry-friendly concessions – which could include measures such as expanded offshore drilling and preemption of state climate laws – if they pave the way for first-time limits on greenhouse gas emissions nationwide.

But at the same time, the groups caution that “legislative details are important, and are not settled yet.” The statement follows Kerry’s meeting Thursday evening with a subset of the groups. Here it is:

We are encouraged by the progress being made by Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman to craft comprehensive climate and energy legislation to bring to the Senate floor later this year.

Their stated goal and commitment to a 17% reduction in carbon pollution by 2020 and an 80% reduction by 2050 represents the leadership needed by the US Senate to create jobs, increase energy security, reduce carbon pollution and protect public health. Legislative details are important, and are not settled yet, and we will be working closely with the senators, their staffs and others to make sure these details achieve the goals.

The statement is from the following groups:

The Alliance for Climate Protection, Environment America, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, Blue Green Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for American Progress Action fund, Union of Concerned Scientists, National Tribal Environmental Council, ENE (Environment Northeast), National Audubon Society, Interfaith Power and Light, Conservation International, Defenders of Wildlife, Clean Water Action, The Wilderness Society, Climate Solutions, Environmental Law and Policy Center.