Senate Democrats may forgo including expanded nuclear energy and offshore drilling provisions in a climate change bill if those additions don't attract enough Republicans, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said today.

"There will be less appetite to do as much as broadly if we're not gaining something for it," Kerry said in an interview this morning with Atlantic Media Political Director Ronald Brownstein. "There are many people who believe that the future is going to be defined more by some of the alternatives and renewables than by some of these others."

Kerry, a co-sponsor of the bill the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is considering this week, also acknowledged that putting a price on carbon -- most likely through a cap-and-trade system -- will turn away some lawmakers, no matter what else is included in a bill.

Brownstein also spoke with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the top Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, who said that GOP support for the bill will depend in part on how significant the nuclear and drilling provisions are. But she emphasized that such measures alone would not be enough.

"I'm not one of those that is going to automatically not be part of a conversation just because you have a cap-and-trade piece," Murkowski said. "But if your cap-and-trade piece becomes the end-all and be-all, and we're just going to throw in some things to, essentially, buy your interest, I don't think that gets to where I believe Kerry and [Sen. Lindsey] Graham are talking about with this grand compromise."

Kerry said it was incumbent upon the government to aid in reviving the nuclear industry by streamlining the permitting process and providing "some" loan guarantees, but he insisted that it's the market and new technologies that will decide. "If you read the tea leaves, I'd be more prepared to put my money on [alternatives and renewables] than the others in the long run," Kerry said. "You have to create a fair field and let that be decided."

Murkowski said that, beyond provisions for nuclear energy and offshore drilling, Republicans will be looking closely at how Democrats craft the cap-and-trade system. "You're going to have to have a cap-and-trade piece that, again, goes back to my two pretty broad principles: that you're actually reducing your emissions while at the same time you're ensuring that the economy remains strong and competitive," Murkowski said.

Murkowski took particular issue with the way emissions permits are allocated, specifically in the House bill. "Was it really based on what was happening in the industry and what might be better to help really facilitate significant emissions reductions?" Murkowski asked. "Or was it based on who was sitting at the table, what part of the country they represented and what the strength of their political muscle was?"

Kerry insisted that a cap-and-trade system that distributes free permits to start the program doesn't have to put one industry above another. "We're not picking winners and losers," he said.

Turning to international affairs and the upcoming U.N. climate change talks in Copenhagen, Kerry was pessimistic about the chance of forging a binding international agreement by December. "We have to be honest in the process and deal with the realities," he said. "We don't have time in these four weeks to put the language together and flush out every crossed 't' and dotted 'i' of a treaty." Kerry's predictions echoed recent comments made by Yvo de Boer, executive director of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Instead, the senator hopes that leaders can come to a "binding and real political agreement" where countries agree to a fixed reduction of emissions that also includes provisions on finances, adaption and target levels. This would serve as the "framework of a treaty" until leaders can meet again to hash out a formal treaty. Kerry said he had spoken recently with key climate negotiators, including de Boer, and that it was imperative for the international process that the U.S. pass some form of climate legislation.

More in Energy Go to section

November 20, 2009 | Tech Daily Dose

Senator Seeks Federal Standards On TV Power Use

November 20, 2009 | Energy and Envrionment Bulletin

Expert Bloggers Split On Reid's Delay

November 20, 2009 | Energy and Envrionment Bulletin

Need-To-Know Memo, Nov. 20

November 20, 2009 | CongressDaily

Browner: U.S. Seeking Broad Climate Plan

November 19, 2009 | Energy and Envrionment Bulletin

ANGA Maintains Renewables, Gas Are Partners