http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/15/washington/15energy.html?ref=usWASHINGTON, June 14 — Senate Democrats, facing their first significant battle over a wide-ranging bill intended to reduce oil consumption, found themselves blocked by Republicans on Thursday and postponed all significant votes until next week.
Republicans vowed to filibuster over a Democratic proposal that would force electric utility companies to generate a big share of their power from renewable fuels, and Democrats failed to muster the 60 votes needed to close off debate.
The impasse forced Democrats to begin negotiating a possible compromise with Republicans and the power industry, which have argued that companies in many parts of the country simply cannot generate enough power from wind or solar energy to meet the requirements.
“We’re trying to work something out,” said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate Democratic leader. But by early evening, the principle negotiators had failed to reach a deal and Democrats decided to postpone further voting until next Tuesday.
<more>