The Democratic energy plan, as amended, included a requirement that electric utilities buy at least 10 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. Utilities that did not comply were charged a fine of three cents per kilowatt-hour. Nickles (R-OK) proposed an amendment that halved this penalty to 1.5 cents. Progressives were opposed to any attempt to weaken this 10 percent standard, so they opposed the Nickles amendment. Bingaman made a motion to table (kill) the amendment, which meant a vote in favor was a vote against Nickles. A significant number of Democrats voted with Republicans, and the motion was rejected, 38-59. The halving of the penalties was then adopted on a voice (unrecorded) vote.