1) The EPA announced Wednesday that it is "moving forward on new rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of power plants and large industrial facilities," which could "goad lawmakers into" passing climate change legislation. (New York Times) "The EPA's move is significant, because under the Clean Air Act, any facility emitting more than 250 tons per year of a regulated pollutant must meet federal requirements. The agency is seeking to modify that requirement to target the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases." (Washington Post)

2) "The prospect of E.P.A. regulation of greenhouse gas emissions has generated fear and deep divisions within American industry." (New York Times) "Industry groups immediately questioned the agency's" move. "They charged that the EPA was skirting the law, since the Clean Air Act typically covers any facility releasing more than 250 tons a year of a recognized pollutant. That threshold would require more facilities to fall under the new regulations." (AP)

3) EPA's proposed rules could "provide evidence of the United States' seriousness as negotiators prepare for" the Copenhagen climate talks in December. (New York Times) These rules, combined with the energy bill introduced Wednesday by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., "could influence the outcome of" those talks. (Washington Post)

4) Senate Democrats "face an uncertain road to the 60 votes needed to beat a filibuster" in order to pass energy legislation. (CongressDailyAM --- subscription) Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, "holds the key to delivering a bloc of Midwestern senators crucial to passing" the bill. (The Hill)

5) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was "noncommittal when asked whether" the bill "could be squeezed into the Senate's crowded calendar this year." (The Hill) "Kerry, while generally optimistic of the bill's chances, even appeared to caution that the bill's timing either before or after international climate change talks in mid-December will be based upon whether they have the 60 votes." (CongressDailyAM -- subscription)

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