Kerry to Meet With Enviros to Discuss Narrow Climate Bill

Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the architects of a cap-and-trade bill, are planning to meet with environmental leaders today to discuss a path forward on climate and energy legislation, press reports say. The meeting is likely an attempt to sell environmentalists on the lawmakers’ pending climate bill, which will include a narrower cap on greenhouse gas emissions.

The Hill reported late last night that Kerry and Lieberman will meet with environmental leaders “to discuss a final push to price carbon.”

The meeting comes after Senate staff met at the White House last Thursday with officials from the Edison Electric Institute, a leading trade group representing utilities, The Hill says.

Kerry and Lieberman are expected this week to shop a “utility first” bill around to various Senate offices, an attempt to revive some form of carbon cap. Sources on and off the Hill say Kerry has met with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) to get input on the proposal in hopes of gaining her endorsement. While the details of the bill remain unclear, it appears likely that it will, at least in the short term, cap emissions from electric utilities only.