Aides for Fred Upton and Jim Inhofe are seeking a push from industry to block EPA climate rules. AP Photos

By DARREN GOODE & ROBIN BRAVENDER
1/20/11 4:32 AM EST Top staff members for key House and Senate Republicans met in a closed-door session Tuesday with energy industry interests to work on strategy to handcuff the Obama administration’s climate change agenda. With the backing of GOP caucus leaders, aides for House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ranking member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) are seeking unwavering support from a host of industries for an all-out push to block federal and state climate rules. “The feedback we got was ‘hey, great, go for it guys,’” one Republican aide told POLITICO. “And we pretty strongly told them we do need your help to get this done. And when we walked away from the meeting the feeling was we got that.” The roster of those attending the invitation-only gathering is being kept under lock and key, though it is believed to include the American Petroleum Institute, National Mining Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and others. The Edison Electric Institute – the main trade association of investor-owned electric utilities who worked on efforts last Congress to do a broad energy and climate proposal – was not at the meeting, nor was the American Public Power Association. EEI – which represents utilities from the cleanest to dirtiest across the board – has not taken a position on delaying or trumping the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate regulations. EPA this month began regulating major emitters of greenhouse gases, including power plants and refineries. Upton is looking to introduce a bill as soon as next week blocking EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, with hearings in his panel next month and a bill brought to the House floor by late February or in March. Addressing EPA’s climate rules was the top energy issue in Upton’s policy agenda released this week. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) – a member of the Senate GOP leadership – is looking to introduce a bill next week that will be broader than Upton’s and based on a plan offered last year by now-retired Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) preempting all federal agencies from regulating greenhouse gases outside of Congress passing a climate change measure. That would include blocking greenhouse gas regulations not just under the Clean Air Act, but also under the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. His plan also would stop states from regulating greenhouse gases, as well as public nuisance litigation related to climate change. Most Senate Republicans think the sweeping repeal of EPA authority is the best approach, a Senate aide said, and they’re confident they can get broad Democratic support. “There’s anywhere from 12 to 15 Democrats that we are eying that we think would have an interest in supporting a bill like this,” the aide said. Among the Democrats Republicans are watching: Bob Casey (Pa.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Herb Kohl (Wis.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Jim Webb (Va.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), John Rockefeller (W.Va.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Tim Johnson (S.D.) and Claire McCaskill (Mo.). …

GOP staff, energy lobby in closed-door talks