While Democratic efforts to pass comprehensive climate change legislation in the Senate failed, the Obama administration is moving ahead with plans to use its existing powers to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

By Andrew Restuccia and Ben Geman at The Hill.com

EXCERPTS:

five things to watch out for next year:

The agency laid out a timetable for phasing in emissions standards for power plants and refineries, and it announced that it would issue greenhouse gas permits in Texas, where the governor had refused to align itself with federal rules. On top of that, beginning in January EPA will, on a case-by-case basis, begin phasing in rules that require large new industrial plants and sites that perform major upgrades to curb emissions.

2010 was a disappointing year for environmental groups that poured resources into lobbying for climate legislation, only to see it hit a brick wall in the Senate. Now, with emissions caps more vilified than ever on Capitol Hill, look for green groups to defend state and EPA climate programs.

Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said earlier this year that clean energy advocates are getting their “asses kicked” inside the Beltway and called on environmental groups to rethink their strategies.

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