A dozen of the more liberal senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Wednesday outlining their goals for energy and climate change legislation that Reid hopes to bring to the floor before the August recess. “The single-most important action we can take to reform our energy policy and make the United States a leader in the global clean energy economy is to make polluters pay for the pollution they emit,” the senators said in their letter.

The letter was signed by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.).

“In the wake of the disastrous and ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, it is even more essential that the Senate act quickly to reform our nation’s energy policy to end our dependence on foreign oil, make a significant commitment to clean, renewable energy, and ensure that polluters pay for the cost of these investments by establishing a price on pollution from traditional fossil fuels,” the letter said.

“A strong bill that includes these priorities will sufficiently drive the necessary investment in clean energy technology to create the well-paid jobs that will revitalize our economy and sustain it for generations to come.”

Despite the call from the 12 senators, there is still doubt the Senate will consider climate and energy legislation before the Senate goes home in August. However, Reid still wants to bring a bill to the floor next week, and Democrats have scheduled a caucus on the matter for today.

Still, Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said Wednesday that a vote is unlikely any time soon. “We’re not doing it before we leave in August,” Durbin said.