Proposals for mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions have been roundly rejected by the US senate in the latest series of debates over the comprehensive energy bill.
The Senate defeated the proposal to cap greenhouse gases at 2000 levels within five years by a 60-38 vote. The bipartisan measures were put forward by Sen. John McCain together with Sen. Joe Lieberman.
The easy defeat of the measure is seen as a fairly broad endorsement of energy policy at the White House, which has already rejected the Kyoto protocol on climate change. The vote is likely to strengthen President Bush’s resolve to resist measures curbing greenhouse gas emissions when he faces the G-8 leaders during the summit on 6 July.
While international criticism of US intransigence over global warming mounts, Bush has been promoting the role of nuclear power in the US. Speaking during a visit to the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Maryland, Bush told workers “it’s time for this country to start building nuclear power plants again.”