A Democratic bill aimed at reining in global warming and promoting alternative energy development will increase energy prices and cost jobs, according to Republican Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, in Pittsburgh yesterday on the first stop of a cross-country tour to oppose the legislation and formulate a Republican response.

Mr. Pence, who chaired a morning-long "energy summit" convened by the Republican American Energy Solutions Group at the Holiday Inn - North, said the party's energy policy will focus on "traditional" fossil fuels, seek more access to domestic coal, oil and natural gas resources, and promote development of nuclear energy.

He said the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would place limits on heat-trapping pollution emissions by establishing a "cap and trade" emissions market, could raise household energy costs by $3,100 a year.

"I believe that cap and trade legislation is an economic declaration of war on the Midwest by liberals in Washington, D.C., and must be opposed," Mr. Pence said to about 50 people attending the summit.

Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard, Centre County, said the Waxman-Markey legislation is a "job crushing bill" and called for development of the Marcellus shale natural gas field that underlies much of Pennsylvania.

Keven Kennedy, national press secretary for Repower America/Alliance for Climate Protection, a national environmental group, said the Republican's road show mischaracterizes the legislation's impact on jobs and the economy. He said the $3,100-a-year household cost has been taken out of context and investment in clean energy technology would create 86,000 jobs in Pennsylvania.

"This is a disingenuous effort by the Republicans," Mr. Kennedy said. "They claim to be getting public opinion but they're misleading the public on the impacts of the bill."

The Waxman-Markey bill, which was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week and could be voted on by the full House this summer, has been touted by Democrats as a job creation bill that promotes energy efficiencies in buildings, homes and industries that will save consumers billions of dollars, move the country toward energy independence and cut global warming pollution.

The bill places limits on heat-trapping air emissions that will cut pollution by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, 42 percent in 2030 and 83 percent in 2050.

"We are disappointed to see that the House Republican Conference and its American Energy Solutions Group are actively working to delay real action on global warming and keep Pennsylvania from reaching a clean energy economy with new green jobs, and instead are continuing to push for dirty, traditional sources of energy to power the country," said Erika Staaf, who attended the meeting and is water advocate for PennEnvironment, a state environmental group.

The Pittsburgh "summit" was the first of three scheduled by the House Republican Conference this week. The group will meet today in Indianapolis, Ind., and tomorrow in San Luis Obispo, Calif.