US House Approves Bush's Energy PlanUS House of Representatives early Thursday approved major portions of President George W. Bush 's energy plan, endorsing billions of U.S. dollars in tax breaks and incentives for energy producers and his proposal to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.Republican leaders, backed by a potent coalition of organized labor and the oil, gas, coal and nuclear power industries, pushed through the energy bill by 240 to 189 over strong opposition from Democrats and moderate Republicans. In a major victory for President Bush, the House turned back an attempt to block his proposal to open up Alaska's coastal plain to petroleum exploration. But to help win backing for the drilling plan, the chamber limited the amount of land available for exploration to 2,000 acres from Bush's proposed 1.5 million acres. Bush has called the refuge the country's major untapped source of petroleum and insisted drilling can be done there without harming the environment. The bill includes 33.5 billion dollars in tax breaks and other incentives for the power industry aimed at increasing oil and gas exploration, developing new coal-burning technologies and promoting nuclear energy, as well as funds for conservation and alternative energy sources. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham called passage of the bill "a tremendous victory for America, for the economy and for the environment." Minority Leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri, however, said the bill was "tilted to the energy lobby" with too little to get Americans to conserve energy and too many subsidies for oil, coal, nuclear and other energy producers. |
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