First-term Senate Democrats lent their leader a hand Friday by announcing their support for passing a clean energy bill this year.

In a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) the group of 12 first-termers declared, “We see the great potential for our states and our nation to benefit if we enact comprehensive energy legislation this year.”

The letter comes as Reid continues to struggle with finding a compromise energy bill that could win the support of his widely diverse Democratic caucus and a handful of Republicans on the floor. The first-term Senators’ letter sent Friday, which included a handful of guidelines for the legislation, joins a host of other Democratic proposals that have been offered this year. The group urged for a movement away from foreign oil with an emphasis on alternative energy investments and tax incentives.

Reid has said he wants to bring some form of energy legislation up for consideration the week of July 26. A sketch of that measure could be released sometime next week.