“It’s an important speech to lay out his vision for the future of America in energy and climate,” said Hardwick, who said it was Gore’s first major speech on energy this year. “It will connect the dots between the energy crisis and the climate crisis.”

Democratic lawmakers have backed away from the global warming debate in the past few weeks, concentrating instead on attempts to lower gas prices.

Republicans have pressed for expanded domestic drilling, throwing Democrats on the defensive.

Republican strategists view drilling as one of the few clear policy advantages they have over Democrats.

Senate Democrats considered global-warming legislation after the Memorial Day recess but quickly dropped the issue after a Republican filibuster. Since then they have focused on proposals closely related to gas prices: taxing the windfall profits of oil companies, curbing oil speculation in the futures markets and pressing oil companies to develop millions of acres in untapped federal land under lease.  

Surging energy prices have forced Democratic leaders to grapple with dissension in their ranks. They have postponed consideration of legislation seeking to strip energy companies of untapped federal leases, fearing the issue could spin out of control and into Republicans’ favor.

Global warming has divided Democrats such as Rep. John Dingell (Mich.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edward Markey (Mass.), chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, who supports stricter curbs on carbon emissions.

Dingell reminded his colleagues of the cost of curbing greenhouse gases by introducing an expensive carbon tax proposal last year.

Dingell said in a C-SPAN interview last year that he questioned whether “the American people are willing to pay what this is really going to cost them” and said his proposed tax would let him “see how people really feel about this.”

But Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air quality, disputed arguments that global warming legislation would make energy more expensive.

“A properly drafted climate control measure would not be economically disruptive,” said Boucher.

“Those who oppose a climate control measure will make the argument that it should not be considered at a time of high energy prices, but that is a bogus argument.”

Environmental activists are hoping for big things from Gore.

“I think this is a teachable moment,” said Anna Aurilio, the Washington director of Environment America, a coalition of 26 state environmental groups. “People know that we’re at a crossroads for the policies of the past,” which she described as offshore drilling, expanded domestic drilling and the expanded consumption of fossil fuels.

Some lawmakers warn that Americans are angry about gas prices and don’t necessarily want to be reminded about the economic sacrifices that may be necessary to reduce the nation’s oil consumption.

“People’s anger about a lot of things is crystallized as a result of the gas prices,” said Lautenberg. “The anger is focused by the visibility [of inflated prices] at the pump.”

Lautenberg warned that Americans aren’t eager to hear about the need for more financial sacrifices if there’s not a possible reward in the not-too-distant future.

“If it looks like it’s just a continuation of an attack of our economy and family budgets, then its starts getting dispiriting,” he said of innovative yet expensive energy proposals.