|
Senate nears vote on energy bill; oil companies spared |
|
By Manu Raju
|
|
Posted: 06/21/07 02:29 PM [ET] |
The Senate Thursday narrowly removed a major hurdle facing energy legislation, but not before Republicans derailed billions of dollars of tax incentives aimed at increasing renewable energy at the expense of oil companies.
By a 61-32 vote, the Senate moved to shut down debate on a substitute amendment to a broad energy bill that would ramp up the nation’s reliance on biofuels, prohibit price-gouging and require federal buildings to be more efficient.
But just prior to that, the Senate by a 57-36 vote failed to reach the 60 votes needed to close debate on the $32 billion energy tax package, a cornerstone of the underlying bill.
“It’s obviously a setback, but the House is still working on what it’s going to do,” said Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Energy Committee chairman.
Regional divisions had thrown into question whether the Democrats would succeed in achieving one of their top domestic priorities. But senators said they have resolved a dispute, launched by their colleagues from auto-producing states, over an increase in fuel economy standards. They plan to announce the deal later today.
Democrats are also relenting on their push to require utilities to generate electricity from a set amount of renewable fuels after a rebellion from Southern senators.
Bingaman said he would drop that effort since backers do not have the 60 votes to avert any procedural roadblocks.
|
