Senate Passes Revised Energy Bill

The Senate passed an energy bill late Thursday that would boost fuel efficiency for new automobile fleets to 35 mpg by 2020, increase energy efficiency standards and set a mandate for more use of ethanol and other biofuels, the Washington Post reported Friday.

The revised bill — passed 86-8 just a week after the Senate Republicans killed an earlier version — came a week after a Republican filibuster threat forced Democratic leaders to remove tax breaks for wind and solar projects while reducing breaks for oil and gas companies, the Post said.

The measure will go back to the House, which passed an earlier version of the bill. If approved, President Bush said he would sign it, the paper reported.

The automobile industry fought a losing battle to blunt new fuel efficiency standards, the Post said. The corporate average fuel economy standards would be the first increases in 32 years.

They CAFE provisions had widespread support because of high oil prices and concerns about U.S. dependence on imported petroleum, the Post said.