WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats have decided to press ahead in the next two weeks with a scaled-back energy bill that limits carbon pollution by power plants but not by other industries in an effort to salvage the legislation before midterm elections.

After months of gridlock, the White House and Democratic leaders have concluded that the sweeping measure they once envisioned cannot pass, so they will try to get what they can rather than pass nothing at all. The developing plan is intended to appeal to enough Republicans to overcome a filibuster but could disappoint liberals who argue that more needs to be done.

“If not now, when?” said Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic majority leader, who plans to bring the compromise bill to the Senate floor next week. “We have to move to do something about our dependence on foreign oil. That’s what this legislation is all about.”

Reid also presented it as a way to further stimulate the economy, saying, “This, as I’ve indicated, is a huge jobs bill.”

While the House last year passed a measure capping the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change across the economy, the White House and its Senate allies will push only to limit those from electric utilities, which are responsible for about a third of the emissions produced by the United States.

Such a measure would allow Obama to make a down payment on his larger goal.

“He’s always believed there should be an economywide solution but recognizes that may not be where we are,” Carol Browner, the president’s energy and climate adviser, said in an interview. “Getting started is hugely important, and he’s willing to work with senators in that direction.”

Most Republicans remain firm in their opposition to any cap on emissions, and six Democrats recently joined an effort by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to pass a resolution criticizing new Environmental Protection Agency rules relating to greenhouse gases.