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A blueprint for a climate change and energy bill that sponsors hope will gain the 60 votes necessary to pass the Senate in 2010 was released Thursday by the three lawmakers who have been leading the charge for legislation: Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT). Separately, Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) on Friday unveiled a competing proposal to create a “cap and dividend” structure that would give dividends to U.S. taxpayers.

President Obama last week called on Congress to provide incentives for consumers who retrofit their homes to become more energy efficient, “which we know creates jobs, saves money for families and reduces the pollution that threatens our environment.” One proposal would expand “select” initiatives in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to promote energy efficiency and clean energy jobs that have been proven “to be particularly popular and effective.”

Despite significantly lower realized commodity prices, increased volumes from the Overland Pass Pipeline and the Guardian Pipeline extension helped ONEOK Inc. keep its earnings at 39 cents/share on net income of $41.7 million in 2Q2009, compared with 39 cents/share on net income of $41.9 million in 2Q2008, the Tulsa-based company said Wednesday.

ConocoPhillips CEO James Mulva last Tuesday called on Congress to pass a comprehensive energy bill that deals with all sources of energy, not just the politically popular alternative energy and renewable fuels.

ConocoPhillips CEO James Mulva Tuesday called on Congress to pass a comprehensive energy bill that deals with all sources of energy, not just the politically popular alternative energy and renewable fuels.

Pressured by the uncertainty of whether Congress would pass the $700 billion loan package for Wall Street, the U.S. energy sector took a dive on Friday as commodity prices spiraled lower. Some energy companies may have trouble securing loans in the short term, but overall, the sector should survive, energy analysts said.

Pressured by the uncertainty of whether Congress would pass the $700 billion loan package for Wall Street, the U.S. energy sector took a dive on Friday as commodity prices spiraled lower. Some energy companies may have trouble securing loans in the short term, but overall, the sector should survive, energy analysts said.

Higher costs for oil, natural gas and electricity are being felt by consumers across the board as companies are forced to pass on to customers the higher prices they pay for energy. In the chemicals and forest products industries, high energy commodity costs are reshaping company strategies, notes Standard & Poor’s (S&P) in a new report.

Senate Democrats’ efforts to pass climate change legislation this year came to a screeching halt Friday when the chamber failed to obtain the required 60 votes needed to move forward with the bill.