Roll Call (subscription) reports that Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) will be taking over the gavel of the House Energy & Commerce Committee from longtime Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), after a vote of 137-122 in the full House Democratic Caucus.

With high energy prices squeezing their wallets, U.S. voters are calling for measures to reduce energy costs. One proposal is for more oil and gas exploration and development in offshore areas now off-limits to energy companies. Democrats want to keep the ban on drilling, and favor development of alternative energy.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met Sunday with T. Boone Pickens, a billionaire oilman and Republican, to discuss the future of U.S. energy policy.

"Obama voted for a 2005 energy bill backed by President Bush that included billions in subsidies for oil and natural gas production, a measure for which Vice President Dick Cheney played a major role. McCain opposed the bill, saying at the time that it included billions in unnecessary tax breaks for the oil industry." -- The Associated Press' Tom Raum

U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign issued the following statement from McCain 2008 Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker in defense of Barack Obama's energy positions:

Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson is in the US to talk about Swedish energy and environmental policies.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday blamed America's energy problems on timid Washington politicians and said if elected he would pursue bold proposals to fight global warming.

Tony Blair said Wednesday Britain must look at a new generation of nuclear power stations to guarantee its future energy supplies. Blair reopened the debate over nuclear power in an opinion piece in The Times newspaper before the publication of a new government energy strategy report on Wednesday. The report is expected to also encourage wind and solar power.

The European Union has said diversifying energy supplies and transit routes is one of its most urgent priorities. However, analysts say the EU needs to act fast if it wants to secure direct access to Central Asian oil and gas -- and warn that Russia is purposely attempting to undermine some of the EU's key initiatives.