Greens mobilize against looming Senate EPA climate amendment

The National Wildlife Federation sent a letter to lawmakers Tuesday warning that the measure would “dismantle our fundamental clean air protections, undermine our ability as a nation to protect public health, and stifle investments in technologies that allow us to compete in the global clean energy economy.”

The amendment is expected to need 60 votes for passage, which is unlikely to occur. But a majority vote in favor of the plan would nonetheless be a political blow to advocates of greenhouse gas rules.

Inhofe’s bill currently has 43 co-sponsors, including one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Proponents say the EPA rules will cost jobs and raise energy costs.

But the measure could also attract support from politically vulnerable Democrats facing reelection. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) recently said he might back the plan.

However, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has already attracted several centrist Democratic co-sponsors for his less aggressive plan to block EPA stationary rules for two years.

It remains unclear whether the Inhofe measure will come up Tuesday. The House Energy and Commerce approved the EPA measure Tuesday afternoon 34-19. Three Democrats voted in favor, and no Republicans opposed it.