"Over the past two years, cap-and-trade advocates used the threat of U.S. EPA climate regulations as a key driver in the push for climate legislation on Capitol Hill. Now, Democratic leaders face the challenge of renewed bipartisan interest in handcuffing EPA before it takes action.

President Obama and many Democrats reveled six weeks ago in the successful defeat of a Senate bid to neuter EPA's authority over emissions. But with the Senate climate bill dead, new momentum is building for legislation that would pre-empt the agency's power under the Clean Air Act to regulate stationary pollution sources.

'The time has come to prevent the EPA from going forward next year with regulations on stationary sources,' said Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), a co-sponsor of a bill forcing a two-year timeout on EPA emissions rules. 'If Congress doesn't act by this time next year, the EPA will.'"

Elana Schor reports for ClimateWire July 23, 2010. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Senate Dems Say Energy Bill Out Early As Monday" (Reuters) [3]

"Sen. Reid's Decision on Climate Bill Leaves D.C. Scrambling to Pick Up the Pieces" (ClimateWire) [4]

"Senate Abandons Climate Effort, Dealing Blow to President" (ClimateWire) [5]