10 to watch: Senators on Energy

by Darren Goode (Politico) With Republicans controlling the House and ramping up oversight and investigations of the Obama administration, focus at least initially in the next Congress will be on the Senate to lay a potential pathway for legislative compromise on energy and environmental policy.
...Oil-state lawmakers will continue to seek the right balance between government oversight and private enterprise in drilling off the nation’s coastline in the aftermath of this summer’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill. And first will be an effort to curb greenhouse gas regulations at the Environmental Protection Agency.
With that in mind, here are 10 senators in particular who could be major players on energy and environmental policy:
Harry Reid (D-Nev.) ...natural gas-powered vehicles, renewable energy key to his sun-drenched state and granting the federal government greater authority in siting a new green electric transmission network...
Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) ...reducing industrial emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury,... compromise on nuclear power and electric vehicles...
Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)...a new federal energy financing office, an “Interstate Highway System” for electricity transmission...
Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) ...requiring power companies to increase production of low-carbon electricity. ... linking that idea to proposals preventing EPA from “overly” regulating carbon and other air pollutants. ...new ways to finance federal highway coffers, a subject that will come up as part of a broader effort to reauthorize surface transportation legislation. “As people drive less on gas, we need to think about how do we get money into the highway trust fund in the future of a low carbon world. ..."
Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.)...boosting the production of nuclear power.
Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) ...clean energy standard and at least force a delay of EPA climate regulations. ...
Mary Landrieu (D-La.) ...A fierce defender of her state’s oil and gas industry
Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) ...The next transportation reauthorization bill being worked on this next Congress would bring with it energy and environmental policy implications. “When you’re dealing with the highway bill, you’re dealing with the issue of reducing congestion. And when you reduce congestion, you reduce pollution,” Boxer told POLITICO.
Max Baucus (D-Mont.) ...As a key member of EPW, Baucus also would be a key player on the highway and 3-P bills.
Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) ...“The fact is, we’ve got a lot of outdated subsidies. And a lot of energy subsidies would fall in that category.” READ MORE