Factbox: Influential Senate Energy Legislation

Reid is meeting with his Democratic caucus on Thursday to talk about what may be included in the bill. A bill is seen as key priority for the Obama Administration but a number of lawmakers say time is running out in the legislative calendar and votes are not there for a broad package.

The following are highlights of legislation introduced in the Senate that may contribute language to the final package.

American Power Act

Sponsor: John Kerry, Democratic Senator from Massachusetts; Joe Lieberman, Independent Senator from Connecticut

Status: Draft bill

* Sets a cap-and-trade system for utility carbon pollution permits

* Places a tax on carbon emissions by large pollutants

* Aims to reduce carbon emissions 17 percent by 2020, more than 80 percent by 2050

National Energy Efficiency Enhancement Act of 2010 (S. 3059)

Sponsor: Jeff Bingaman, Senate Democrat from New Mexico; Lisa Murkowski, Senate Republican from Alaska; eight more senators

Status: Energy and Natural Resources Committee held hearings

* Boosts Energy Department program to increase energy efficiency of appliances

* Battles carbon emissions through better efficiency

* Builds on Bingaman’s earlier bill: S. 1462

American Clean Energy and Leadership Act (S. 1462)

Sponsor: Jeff Bingaman, Senate Democrat from New Mexico

Status: Approved by committee and placed on Senate calendar

* Places carbon emissions cap on utilities

* Creates credit trading programs for utilities

* Formulates energy efficiency standards for appliances, buildings and lighting

Oil Independence for Stronger America Act (S. 3601)

Sponsor: Jeff Merkley, Democratic Senator from Oregon; Tom Carper, Democratic Senator from Delaware; Michael Bennet, Democratic Senator from Colorado; Tom Udall, Democratic Senator from New Mexico

Status: Referred to Finance Committee

* Sets plan to reduce oil use by 8 million barrels a day and eliminate overseas oil imports by 2030

* Beefs up electric vehicle production

* Forms National Council on Energy Security

Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010 (S.3442)

Sponsor: Byron Dorgan, Democratic Senator from North Dakota; Lamar Alexander, Republican Senator from Tennessee; Jeff Merkley, Democratic Senator from Oregon

Status: Approved by Energy and Natural Resources Committee

* Aims to put 400,000 plug-in electric cars on road in three years

* Creates incentives for purchase of electric cars

* Provides $1.5 billion toward electric battery R&D

Practical Energy and Climate Plan Act of 2010 (S. 3495)

Sponsor: Richard Lugar, Republican Senator from Indiana; Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator from South Carolina; Lisa Murkowski, Republican Senator from Alaska

Status: Energy and Natural Resources Committee held hearings

* Sets ground for continuous gradual increase of fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars

* Creates national building energy efficiency standards, enforces standards for appliances

* Provides greater loans for new nuclear plants

Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal (CLEAR) Act (S.2877)

Sponsor: Maria Cantwell, Democratic Senator from Washington; Susan Collins, Democratic Senator from Maine

Status: In Finance Committee

* Aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020, 83 percent by 2050

* Caps emissions from large fossil-fuel producers

* Streams funds from sale of emissions permits toward clean energy R&D, private citizen refunds

Article compiled by Alina Selyukh; edited by Lisa Shumaker; appearing courtesy Reuters