Byrd’s death brings new problems for climate advocates

He joined nine other Democrats from coal producing or manufacturing-heavy states in an April letter that spelled out several conditions for supporting a climate bill.

Byrd penned an op-ed late last year noting that “some form of climate legislation” will likely become law and that the industry and the state must “anticipate change and adapt to it, or resist and be overrun by it.”

One of Byrd’s last votes, cast June 10, was his vote against Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) failed resolution to block EPA climate change rules. He split with Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), who backed Murkowski’s plan. Rockefeller has also called for the Senate to abandon climate legislation this year.

“Over the last year, Senator Byrd seemed increasingly inclined to accept some climate change proposals,” said Scott Segal, a lobbyist for Bracewell & Giuliani who represents power companies and refiners.

“It is likely that any replacement for Senator Byrd, even on a temporary basis, may adhere more closely to the line taken by Senator Rockefeller, particularly as it concerns potential adverse effects of climate policy on the West Virginia economy,” Segal added.

Other analysts made a similar point. “We strongly doubt that any interim successor named by Governor Manchin will endorse green energy, climate policy or constraints on fossil energy extraction,” predicted the energy consulting firm ClearView Energy Partners in a note Monday.

Daniel J. Weiss of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, said Byrd’s passing is a blow to efforts to curb greenhouse gases.

“Senator Byrd led efforts among coal state senators to devise global warming legislation that would smooth the transition for workers in their states,” said Weiss, a senior fellow with the group. “As in many other ways, his passing is a loss for this effort. It is unclear who will pick up his mantle of leadership now that he is gone.”

—Kevin Bogardus contributed.