GOP win puts the brakes on energy, climate bills

WASHINGTON — The election that put Republicans in control of the House and weakened Democrats’ hold on the Senate also slammed the door on sweeping energy, oil spill and climate change legislation for at least the next two years.

But political leaders vowed Wednesday to seek consensus on some smaller proposals, including initiatives to expand natural gas production, give a boost to nuclear power and advance so-called clean coal technology.

Even though nationwide caps on greenhouse gas emissions are too controversial to pass the new Congress, President Barack Obama said Wednesday lawmakers can move the country toward cleaner energy sources by focusing on those smaller issues.

“When it comes to something like energy, what we’re probably going to have to do is say here are some areas where there’s just too much disagreement between Democrats and Republicans. We can’t get this done right now,” Obama said. “But let’s not wait. Let’s go ahead and start making some progress on the things that we do agree on.”

Obama added there may be “ways that we can make progress in the short term and invest in technologies in the long term that start giving us the tools to reduce greenhouse gases.”

Republicans have made clear they will emphasize traditional energy sources during the next two years. For instance, the presumed House Speaker, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, has declared he wants to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources by expanding domestic production of oil and natural gas.

And the top Republican in the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said Wednesday that Congress and Obama can find common ground on proposals to expand nuclear power and give a boost to clean coal technology.

Environmentalists and energy industry leaders said the germ for compromise could come from shared hopes of reviving the nation’s ailing economy.

“It’s a good place to start. Everyone is concerned about getting the economy going again,” said Wesley Warren, director of programs for the NRDC Action Fund, an environmental advocacy group.

Congress could try to spur job growth and give a boost to emerging technologies by offering tax credits for consumers who buy fuel-efficient cars and imposing a nationwide mandate for utilities to use more renewable power.

Under such a mandate, utilities would have to derive a certain percentage of electricity from wind, the sun and other easily replenished sources. Republicans want to expand the initiative and make sure that some non-renewable – but still low-emission – energy sources count toward the mandate. That could include hydropower, geothermal energy and nuclear power.

This is one of the “bite-size chunks” of energy policy that Obama supports and Congress can tackle, predicted Scott Segal, a partner in Bracewell & Giuliani, a law firm.

Congress also could pass legislation to reorganize the federal government agency that oversees offshore drilling and tackle other issues that emerged in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. For instance, there is bipartisan support for raising an existing liability cap limiting how much companies must pay for oil spills, although lawmakers have battled over how high to raise the ceiling.

Any spirit of bipartisanship could be hit by House Republican plans to conduct vigorous oversight of the administration with high-profile oversight hearings on the government’s handling of environmental regulations, climate change policy and offshore drilling decisions.

Both Republicans jockeying to head the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas and Fred Upton of Michigan, have put Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson on notice that she can expect to be a regular in the hot seat and at the witness stand.

Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., in line to head the House Natural Resources Committee, said Wednesday he wants to “get much-needed answers” about the government’s slow processing of offshore drilling permits and administration proposals to block energy production in some areas.

Congress also could butt heads with the administration over the EPA’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

The Republican takeover of the House is good news for oil and gas industry leaders who have waged a fierce campaign against an administration plan to end tax incentives for fossil fuels.

The industry also can count on support from well-positioned allies on Capitol Hill, including Hastings at the Natural Resources Committee and whoever takes the gavel of the energy panel.

“Whether it’s Mr. Barton or Mr. Upton, the Energy and Commerce Committee is going to be friendlier to the business community, more attentive to industrial jobs” and “more balanced in its approach to energy policy,” Segal said.

Although Barton is now the panel’s top Republican, he is bumping up against House GOP rules that limit lawmakers to three consecutive terms leading committees – a policy that applies even when Democrats are in charge. Barton, from Ennis, served as chairman for two years, from 2004 to 2006, and ever since, he has been the top Republican, alongside Democratic Chairman Henry Waxman of California.

Upton, who is one seat down the dais, is the other leading candidate to claim the energy committee chairmanship. Although he is more moderate than Barton, Upton has been trying to buff up his conservative credentials in recent months.

jennifer.dlouhy@chron.com