A Senate vote last week illustrated the political difficulties of taking meaningful steps toward the “clean energy future” envisioned by President Barack Obama.

A narrow Senate majority upheld the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases. The 53-47 vote rejected an effort to overturn the EPA rules, but it is far from a mandate for energy reform.

Even six Democrats voted against the EPA’s new role. But the bottom line is that the EPA’s authority to set rules aimed at reducing emissions from power plants, vehicles and other major sources has been upheld by both the U.S. Senate and Supreme Court.

Now the challenge is to enact an energy bill that will use economic leverage and other incentives to make real progress on reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that promote global warming.

Such a bill passed last year in the U.S. House, but it has been stalled in the Senate ever since. As has been the case so often recently, it looks like the best possibility for meaningful reforms will be through Senate bipartisanship.

And once again, it looks like a tough sell. Both Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Olympia Snowe voted for the resolution to curtail EPA authority over greenhouse gas emissions. After the vote, they cited concerns about the impact of new regulations on Maine’s pulp and paper industry.

Both of Maine’s senators emphasized the need to regulate carbon emissions and encourage clean energy through a comprehensive energy bill. Collins has proposed an approach in which the government would auction pollution allowances to industry and distribute the proceeds in “dividend” checks to every American.

Other Republicans hope to encourage a reduction in emissions without the cap-and-trade approach laid out in the House bill, relying on better efficiency standards and the promotion of alternative fuels.

Last week’s vote showed fewer than 60 votes supporting EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, but the right energy bill might succeed this year. The oil spill in the Gulf is a continuing lesson on the hazards that accompany fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, greenhouse gas emissions increased 26 percent from 1990 to 2005, according to the EPA. Average U.S. temperatures have been rising steadily and 2000-2009 was the warmest decade on record worldwide.

Arctic sea ice is waning and ocean temperatures are rising. Statistics indicate that severe weather and droughts are more prevalent and sea levels worldwide are rising.

The Senate has a chance to address the growing crisis, and it should seek a bipartisan approach that will enable it to do so.

— Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at nickc@journaltribune.com.