The Senate has approved wide-ranging energy legislation with a decidedly "green" emphasis, including provisions that aim to stimulate use of ethanol fuel, encourage more energy-efficient buildings and also set tougher vehicle fuel economy requirements.
Democrats hailed the measure, passed late on June 21 on a 65-27 vote, as a way to reduce petroleum consumption and improve energy efficiency. But they didn't get all that they wanted: Republicans were able to keep a package of conservation-oriented tax breaks and a renewable energy requirement for utilities out of the bill.