"Now that Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's nomination for secretary of State no longer appears to be a matter of if but when, some environmentalists are daring to whisper the three words that they have long dreamed to say: Sen. Ed Markey."

"Markey, an 18-term Democratic congressman, dean of the Massachusetts delegation and outspoken environmental champion, is openly contemplating the prospect of running for the Senate if there's a special election to replace Kerry.

"I'm looking at the seat very carefully, and it's my hope that Senator Kerry becomes secretary of State," Markey said in a brief interview on Capitol Hill on Wednesday."

John McArdle reports for E&E Daily December 21, 2012. [2]