Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Representative Henry Waxman, an advocate for pollution controls, won the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, ousting auto-industry ally John Dingell of Michigan.

``The champion of the environment has replaced the champion of the automotive industry,'' said Daniel Becker, an environmental lawyer and director of the Safe Climate Campaign.

House Democrats voted 137-122 for Waxman in a secret ballot, lawmakers said. Waxman, who currently leads the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said he argued that a change in leadership of the energy panel was needed to help push legislation sought by the administration of President-elect Barack Obama.

``We have a new opportunity that maybe comes only once in a generation,'' Waxman said. ``We must meet the challenge.''

The Energy and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over energy, health care and telecommunications and will have a central role in passing several of Obama's highest legislative priorities when Congress reconvenes next year.

Obama has promised to spend $15 billion a year to help private industry develop clean energy technology and to institute a cap-and-trade system to reduce emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Waxman's win signals rough times ahead for energy producers, said Thomas J. Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, a free-market research group in Washington.

`Hostile' Climate

``Waxman is as liberal as it gets, and he's a very effective legislator,'' Pyle said. For energy providers, Waxman's win creates ``about as hostile a climate as there could possibly be.''

Myron Ebell, director of energy and global warming policy at the free-market Competitive Enterprise Institute, called Waxman's win ``a loud wake-up call to American business leaders that the 111th Congress is not going to play nicely with them.''

Waxman and Dingell have demonstrated different approaches to environmental issues.

Earlier this year, Dingell sided with the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to oppose California's request a waiver from federal rules so the state could impose more stringent pollution controls on cars.

Waxman used his panel to investigate why the agency blocked the waiver, which would have made the state the first in the nation to limit greenhouse gas emissions from autos.

Line of Communication

In addition, Waxman will have a built-in line of communication with the incoming administration: his longtime Chief of Staff Phil Schiliro is part of Obama's transition team and will be the administration's chief congressional liaison.

With Waxman, 69, as chairman, legislation to address climate change ``will happen faster and smoother,'' said Representative Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat. ``Henry is in a better position to guide it.''

Waxman's biggest lifetime donors have been unions and trial lawyers, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Dingell's top lifetime contributors were the automotive industry. Dingell, the longest-serving member in the House, waged a public campaign promoting letters of endorsement from members. After the vote today he congratulated Waxman on his victory, calling 2008 ``clearly a change year.''

Dingell, 82, served as the top Democrat on the energy panel for 28 years, as chairman when Democrats were in the majority and as the ranking member when Republicans controlled Congress. He has served in the House since 1955. His wife is the president of the General Motors Foundation.

To contact the reporters on this story: Daniel Whitten in Washington at dwhitten2@bloomberg.net; Lorraine Woellert in Washington at lwoellert@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 20, 2008 17:06 EST