CLIMATE
Senate to skip carbon caps, renewable energy standards -- report
The Senate will punt on legislation that would limit carbon dioxide emissions and install a renewable electricity standard to focus on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and easier-to-pass energy measures, according to a report from The Hill. Senate Democrats are scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. EDT to discuss the plan to move forward on energy. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and several key senators declined to confirm the plan heading into the meeting. Reid has said he wants a bill on the floor next week; earlier this month he pledged to unveil a four-part bill that would directly address power plant emissions but has since walked back those comments and left the fate of even a scaled-down carbon cap in doubt.