Nov 10 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Andy Lenderman The Santa Fe New Mexican

Barring a major development, U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman will likely take over the direction of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee when Congress reconvenes.

The Democrat from Silver City was elected to a fifth term Tuesday with 71 percent of the vote and his party colleagues gained control of the Senate, meaning the former ranking member will likely chair the committee.

Bingaman could not be reached for comment. He'll likely take over the committee from U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., who pushed the 2005 Energy Policy Act through Congress last year.

Domenici declined to comment through a staffer Wednesday.

"Regardless of the outcome of the Senate, Sen. Domenici has enjoyed a good working rela­tionship with Sen. Bingaman, and expects it to continue," Domenici spokesman Matt Letourneau said.

Bingaman discussed his ideas about energy policy earlier this year in an interview. "I think we need to assume the worse and work aggressively to develop alternatives to oil," Bingaman said. "And also work aggres­sively to reduce our consump­tion of oil. I think the easiest set of steps we could take would be in increased fuel efficiency in the transportation sector."

Bingaman also responded to President Bush's remarks ear­lier this year that the country was addicted to foreign oil, and concerns in some circles that global oil production could soon peak and lead to dramatic demand and price increases.

"The period of cheap oil is largely behind us," Bingaman said.

"And our dependence on foreign oil has grown very dramatically in recent decades.

And of course, as I say, in addi­tion to the energy problems that we face, we face environmental problems in the form of global warming."

Bingaman was elected to the Senate in 1982. The former New Mexico attorney general also serves on the Senate Finance Committee.