PATRICK ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS unveiled a snazzy new dashboard this week showcasing their efforts to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, but a group of Democratic senators say much more needs to be done.

At a hearing this week, Sens. Marc  Pacheco of Taunton, James Eldridge of Acton, and Michael Barrett of Lexington praised the administration for its overall effort in reducing the state’s carbon emissions but criticized officials for failing to comply with several provisions of state environmental laws, including one that would analyze the feasibility of putting a price on carbon emissions.

Pacheco said the administration has failed to comply with a carbon pricing provision in the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008. What the provision requires is a bit vague, but some have called for the administration to set standards for carbon emissions from, say, an office building, and assess fees or fines on those buildings that fail to meet the standard.

“We’re interested in exploring the carbon tax option,” Barrett said.

Philip Griffiths, the state’s undersecretary for the environment, responded that it would be difficult for Massachusetts to start pricing carbon on its own without the federal government first taking action.

Pacheco said sometimes the states have to take the lead when the federal government is paralyzed politically. “I know this might not always be politically popular,” he added.

Barbara Kates-Garnick, the state’s undersecretary for energy, said the Patrick administration was open to exploring options.  “We’re very open to having further discussions,” she said.

Pacheco also criticized the Patrick administration for failing to promulgate regulations that would set declining annual aggregate emissions for various sources of greenhouse gases. Patrick administration officials noted they have issued regulations in connection with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade program governing emissions from electricity production.

Pacheco said the RGGI regulations are not enough, that rules governing all of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions are needed.  “We passed a law that the governor signed,” Pacheco said. “This has got to get done.”