Senate Dems' tricky climate infrastructure message

We now know more about the Senate's bipartisan infrastructure plan — and Democrats' tactical approach to the advancing package that has a suite of climate-related provisions.

Catch up fast: The Senate voted 67-32 to move the $1.2 trillion plan toward debate last night. Per a White House release it includes...

• $73 billion in grid-related spending, including major transmission investments.
• $7.5 billion to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
• $39 billion in public transit spending, and $7.5 billion for zero- and low-emission buses and ferries.
• $50 billion-plus for hardening infrastructure against climate change and cyberattacks.

The intrigue: OK, we still don't have bill text, but summaries in circulation — like the one posted here via Politico and this one via Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) — describe climate- and energy-related measures funded or at least authorized. For instance...

• $8 billion worth of new tax credits for clean energy-related manufacturing.
• Authorization of a $3.5 billion program to create four regional "hubs" for direct air capture projects.
• Josh Freed of the think tank Third Way has a helpful Twitter thread here.

The big picture: The bipartisan agreement comes as Democrats are hoping to move much, much larger climate provisions in a budget reconciliation package on a party-line vote.

• Comments late Wednesday from climate-focused Democrats and activists show they're walking a fine line — greeting the plan with limited praise while trying to keep the pressure on for much more aggressive measures.

• For instance, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said in a statement that "while this package contains valuable provisions, we still have miles left to go."
• Sierra Club legislative director Melinda Pierce called it " an important start," but said Democrats need to go "bigger and bolder" with a plan "as large as the physical reality of the climate crisis."

Go deeper: Democrats call infrastructure bill a down payment on climate (NYT)