A key vote on the Keystone XL pipeline stalled May 12 after the Senate reached an impasse on the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013 (S. 761), sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH).

Senate leaders had hoped to reach an agreement whereby Democrats would allow a binding vote on Keystone XL in exchange for passage of the Shaheen-Portman energy bill.

Negotiation talks broke down when Senate leaders were unable to reach an agreement on the conditions of passage. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) agreed to allow a vote on the measure in exchange for passage of the energy bill without any amendments. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) would only agree to the offer under the condition that the final energy bill would include five Republican amendments, including a measure preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing new greenhouse-gas regulations on coal burning plants.

This action further stalls progress on the pipeline.

Sources: E&E News, The Washington Post