Second Republican Senator hints at support for climate bill

The Obama Administration's efforts to pass a US climate change bill ahead of December's crucial UN summit in Copenhagen received a boost over the weekend when a second Republican Senator broke ranks to say they could vote for the Boxer-Kerry bill currently working its way through the Senate.

In an interview on the C-SPAN cable TV network, Senator Lisa Murkowski said that she would consider voting for a cap-and-trade bill that included support for the nuclear industry and domestic oil drilling, as well as safeguards to ensure consumers and businesses are not adversely impacted by rising energy prices.

Her comments come hot-on-the-heels of an opinion piece in The New York Times last week co-authored by Democrat Senator John Kerry and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, in which they pledged to work together to secure bipartisan support for a US climate change bill.

Murkowski, who is the senior Republican on the Senate's energy panel, said she could be counted "as one of those who will keep my mind open as we move forward".

She also hailed the Kerry-Graham column as "a good indicator that perhaps the conversation is changing", and in stark contrast to some of her Republican colleagues argued that her position as a Senator from Alaska gave her an insight into the impact climate change could have on the US.

"When you see changes to the land coming about ... what is causing the loss of the sea ice that adds to the erosion issues, yes, in Alaska we are seeing change," she said. "That's why I have been one of those Republicans who has stepped out front a little bit more on the issue of climate change."

The comments will fuel growing optimism in Washington that the administration will be able to pass a climate change bill and may even be able to complete a vote on the legislation before the Copenhagen Summit in December.

Earlier this month, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that he remained hopeful that a bill could be delivered before the UN summit, while Democrat senator Barbara Boxer has said that despite a tight time line she is still working to secure a vote on the Senate Floor this year.