Despite the statement of President Barack Obama this week that the Gulf oil spill highlights the needs to decrease the dependence of the nation on fossil fuels, Senate Democrats are under pressure how to move ahead on energy legislation.

In order to discourage the use of carbon, some want that a bill should be passed, which makes the use of carbon more expensive. According to Mr. Obama, this would be best and only way to move the nation to a clean energy economy.

The plan, which includes a system of cap and trade, was passed by the house last year and it has been opposed by some Republicans and Democrats. Some say that it is too taxing for a frail economy and the advisers of Senate leadership say that a sufficient support isn't there to move such a plan through the Senate.

Amid a disturbed legislative scene, Mr. Obama was ambiguous about what steps should be taken during his Oval Office address this week. The supporters of a cap-and-trade system and environmentalists of left are anxious that they were missing their best opportunity to decrease U. S. dependence on fossil fuels. However, Republicans are putting blames on Democrats that they are trying to exploit the Gulf oil spill.