U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman told the Associated Press that he believes the U.S. Senate is unlikely to pass a cap and trade bill in 2010. Bingaman, New Mexico’s senior Senator, chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said there’s no consensus on what form a cap-and-trade system would take, but strong desire exists in both the Senate and House to pass other energy-related bills that would curb pollution blamed for global warming.

With Democrats expected to lose Senate seats in the 2010 elections, along with widespread Republican opposition to the idea of a cap and trade system, passing a cap and trade bill would be all but impossible in 2011.

The U.S. House passed a version of cap and trade earlier in the year, with all three of the Representatives from New Mexico voting for the legislation.