energy companies rethink climate change opposition

Now facing a Democratic Congress, and action by states like California and even the city of Boulder, Colorado, energy companies are reconsidering their approach on climate change.

The president of Shell Oil recently said in a speech, "From Shell's point of view, the debate is over. When 98 percent of scientists agree, who is Shell to say, 'Let's debate the science'?" Exxon is also reconsidering its support for anti-climate change organizations.

But don't get your hopes up. I don't think these companies have found Jesus on the issue of carbon and climate change. Rather, they are finding it harder to play defense and now want a federal standard to avoid dealing with 50 states. They say it's for clarity, but I imagine they also want something weaker than what California and other places are doing and are considering -- a pre-emptive standard to avoid some stronger medicine.

And I'm sure they'd love to have a federal standard while the science-denying de facto Bush Administration is still in office.