House OKs Energy Bill; Rejects New Fuel Standards

In the first votes on major energy legislation reform in nearly a decade, the U.S. House approved President Bush’s broad energy plan after turning back amendments that would have toughened automotive fuel economy standards and prevented drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge.

The bill will now go to the Senate in early September, after the summer recess, the Associated Press said.

The fuel efficiency amendment, proposed by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., would have required light trucks and sport-utility vehicles to match the mileage standards of cars, 27.5 miles per gallon, by 2007.

The House also agreed to open a 2,000 acre section of Alaska’s National Arctic Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, saying that it was America’s greatest untapped petroleum source, and that the drilling could be done without harming the environment, according to news reports.

Reports said both sides of the fuel economy debate quoted a report by the National Academy of Sciences.

Supporters of the amendment quoted that the technology exists to increase efficiency without compromising safety, but opponents said smaller increases should be made over a period of 10 to 15 years to prevent automakers from reducing the size of vehicles which would decrease their safety.

urrent legislation proposes that fuel consumption by SUV’s must be reduced by five billion gallons over six years. The House voted 269-160 against the fuel economy amendment.

The vote on the oil drilling amendment, proposed by Rep. John Sununu, R-N.H., was not clearly split along party lines as at least three dozen representatives from each party broke the leadership in the 228-201 vote.

Bush has favored the Arctic drilling since it leads to his goal of increased domestic oil and natural gas production to decrease dependency on foreign imports, Reuters reported, as well as opening numerous jobs.