1) The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's "two most moderate Republicans, Sens. George Voinovich of Ohio and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee," are leading a GOP boycott of Tuesday's markup on Kerry-Boxer (Politico). All seven panel Republicans will sit out, but that won't be enough to defeat the bill if it comes up for a final vote since Democrats have a majority. "Their only leverage is to prevent a quorum" (CongressDailyAM -- subscription).

2) "With Democrats deeply divided on" Kerry-Boxer, "unless some Republican lawmakers risk the backlash for signing on to the legislation, there is almost no hope for passage." Democrats are trying to "sway at least half a dozen Republicans by offering amendments" to build new nuclear plants. Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will meet with Energy Secretary Steven Chu, White House climate adviser Carol Browner and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday to discuss a compromise (Washington Post).

3) In Barcelona this week, U.N. climate negotiators may urge developing countries, including China and India, "only to adopt measures to limit emissions growth, such as building wind-energy farms," rather than accept binding emissions targets. Industrialized countries, including the United States, have said they won't sign a treaty without the commitment of the fastest-developing countries (Bloomberg News).

4) More than 80 percent "of the $1.05 billion in clean-energy grants distributed by the government since Sept. 1 has gone to foreign renewable energy companies," specifically wind, according to a report by a nonprofit investigative journalism project at American University. The report was released on the same day a consortium of Chinese and American companies announced a first: a new wind farm in west Texas will use Chinese turbines (New York Times).

5) Two bills that have recently passed Senate and House committees include sanctions on Iranian gasoline imports that aim to put pressure on the country's nuclear program. Experts caution, though, that targeting gas imports won't work and could even strengthen the Iranian government (NationalJournal.com).

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