Durbin says energy legislation in lame-duck a ‘long shot’

Those top three issues, he said, are dealing with the New START nuclear reduction treaty with Russia, expiring George W. Bush administration tax cuts and an omnibus spending bill.
 
There is an escalating bipartisan push for the Senate, in a post-election session, to take up a renewable electricity standard (RES) led by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). The two say they have enough support for it, and are looking to secure a vote this year on a plan requiring 15 percent of electricity to stem from sources such as wind, solar and geothermal by 2021.
 
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had said before the August recess that an RES lacked 60 votes and didn’t include it in a narrow energy bill he unveiled. But in late August, Reid reversed course and said an RES is still in the mix if energy legislation were to be salvaged in a lame-duck session.
 
But Republicans who would normally back the substance of a RES still want Reid to allow amendments to be offered on the floor. Many Republicans are looking for more nuclear, hydroelectric and coal power to be included in the mandate.