Executives hail U.S. climate-change deal

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JUNO BEACH, Fla., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Executives in the U.S. clean energy sector hailed a measure on energy and climate change introduced by bipartisan lawmakers in Washington.

U.S. Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., in a letter to President Barack Obama outlined a measure on nuclear energy, regulation in carbon trading and reductions in the dependence on foreign oil, Politico reports.

"We firmly believe that comprehensive domestic legislation will create jobs, reinvigorate the American economy and take back control of our energy," Kerry said.

Kerry added he expects the measure to pass through the Senate by next year.

Lew Hay, the top executive at U.S. clean energy giant FPL Group, hailed the measure as a "big step forward" in the effort to reach U.S. measures on climate change.

His company describes itself as the largest generator of renewable energy in North America.

"There is no mystery about what we need to do," said Hay. "We must address climate change while making sure we provide financial protection to customers."

The development comes as world leaders debate a climate-change accord to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol at a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.