As a big energy package moved through the Senate, lawmakers on June 16 narrowly approved an amendment that would require electric utilities to tap solar, wind, geothermal or other renewable sources of energy for 10% of the power they sell in 2020. Earlier in the day, the Senate defeated a proposal that would have required the U.S. to trim its dependence on foreign oil by 40% in 20 years.
The renewables amendment, proposed by New Mexico's Jeff Bingaman, the top Energy and Natural Resources Committee Democrat, passed on a 52-48 vote. Several Republicans joined nearly all the Democrats to approve the proposal.