CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- One of West Virginia's U.S. senators is opposed to the landmark global warming bill that passed the House Friday, while the other has "serious concerns" about the measure.

Aides to Sen. Robert C. Byrd issued a statement Monday that said Byrd "cannot support" the American Clean Energy and Security Act "in its present form."

Sen. Jay Rockefeller's office also issued a statement that said Rockefeller "continues to have serious concerns about the House bill."

Byrd and Rockefeller are both Democrats, and their party needs 60 votes in the Senate to block a potential Republican filibuster once the legislation reaches the floor. Currently, Democrats hold 59 of the Senate's 100 seats.

On Friday, the House narrowly passed the bill, which caps carbon dioxide emissions and sets up a market-based program for trading and selling greenhouse emissions permits.

West Virginia's House members, Democrats Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan, and Republican Shelley Moore Capito, all voted against the bill. Among other things, they cited concerns about the bill's impact on the coal industry.

The United Mine Workers union did not endorse the bill, but said it provided a "remarkable" amount of money for carbon capture and storage projects that would ensure the "future of coal will be intact."

In his statement Monday, Byrd said, "I continue to believe that clean coal can be a 'green energy.'

"Those of us who understand coal's great potential in our quest for energy independence must continue to work diligently in shaping a climate bill that will ensure access to affordable energy for West Virginians," Byrd said. "I remain bullish about the future of coal, and am so very proud of the miners who labor and toil in the coalfields of West Virginia."

The statement from Rockefeller's office said, "Senator Rockefeller followed the process in the House on the climate change legislation very closely, and he continues to have serious concerns about the House bill.

"The Senate process is in the beginning stages, and Senator Rockefeller will continue working with his colleagues to make sure West Virginia's interests are represented," the statement said.

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.

Aides to Sen. Robert C. Byrd issued a statement Monday that said Byrd "cannot support" the American Clean Energy and Security Act "in its present form."

Sen. Jay Rockefeller's office also issued a statement that said Rockefeller "continues to have serious concerns about the House bill."

Byrd and Rockefeller are both Democrats, and their party needs 60 votes in the Senate to block a potential Republican filibuster once the legislation reaches the floor. Currently, Democrats hold 59 of the Senate's 100 seats.

On Friday, the House narrowly passed the bill, which caps carbon dioxide emissions and sets up a market-based program for trading and selling greenhouse emissions permits.

West Virginia's House members, Democrats Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan, and Republican Shelley Moore Capito, all voted against the bill. Among other things, they cited concerns about the bill's impact on the coal industry.

The United Mine Workers union did not endorse the bill, but said it provided a "remarkable" amount of money for carbon capture and storage projects that would ensure the "future of coal will be intact."

In his statement Monday, Byrd said, "I continue to believe that clean coal can be a 'green energy.'

"Those of us who understand coal's great potential in our quest for energy independence must continue to work diligently in shaping a climate bill that will ensure access to affordable energy for West Virginians," Byrd said. "I remain bullish about the future of coal, and am so very proud of the miners who labor and toil in the coalfields of West Virginia."

The statement from Rockefeller's office said, "Senator Rockefeller followed the process in the House on the climate change legislation very closely, and he continues to have serious concerns about the House bill.

"The Senate process is in the beginning stages, and Senator Rockefeller will continue working with his colleagues to make sure West Virginia's interests are represented," the statement said.

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.