Senate Passes Energy Bill

By a vote of 86 to 8, the U.S. Senate on Thursday evening overwhelmingly passed an amended energy bill that President Bush can sign.

“If this legislation makes it to the president’s desk, he will sign it into law,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Democratic leadership removed two provisions, one to require utility companies to use a fixed percentage of renewable energy and the other a $21 billion tax package that would have eliminated billions of dollars in tax breaks for large oil companies.

The bill would increases the Renewable Fuels Standard to 36 billion gallons of ethanol and other biofuels by 2022, 21 million gallons from new sources.

Under increased CAFE standards, automakers would be required to increase the average fuel economy of cars and trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

The bill still needs to be approved by the House before going to the president for his signature.