Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) has joined US Sen. John A. Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in proposing a government prize to encourage scientific research and development of carbon capture and storage technology.

Businesses and entrepreneurs will need to play a critical part if the US is to create a cleaner energy economy, US Interior Sec. Ken Salazar told a North Dakota audience.

Days after one US Senate committee approved a climate change bill with a carbon cap-and-trade program, the chairman of another convened a hearing to examine the possible economic consequences.

The US House approved a chemical and water security bill with a provision requiring inherently safer technology (IST) by 230 to 193 votes on Nov. 6, despite objections from the petroleum and other industries.

Four US House Republicans urged US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to improve, instead of jettison, categorical exclusions in response to a recent Government Accountability Office report.