A leader of the effort, Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., said Wednesday that the current energy situation posed a greater threat to the United States than terrorism.

The Hill. a Washington newspaper, said Peterson made the statement during a C-SPAN interview in which he urged a consensus on legislation that could actually make it out of Congress rather than being suffocated by political bickering.

Peterson, who isn't seeking re-election in November, said the planned package would be broad in scope, but added, "We cant do everything."

Peterson's ally in the project, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, said in the same interview that a showdown on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska wouldn't be part of the proposals due to its political volatility, The Hill said