Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Energy Bill

But Bingaman cautioned that "this bill does not bring down the price of gasoline at the pump in the near term."

"In the long term," he added, "it puts in place good policies that will move us in directions that will be very beneficial to American consumers, American industry and the American economy."

Energy interests have been lobbying heavily, and many found something to like in the legislation.

Environmentalists said that the Senate version is better than the House bill but that both measures fall far short of meeting the country's needs. Neither the House nor Senate legislation takes a step that environmentalists said would make the biggest impact in reducing oil imports and lowering gasoline prices: increasing minimum mileage standards for vehicles. Senators rejected an amendment to do so, saying it would hurt U.S. automobile manufacturers, cost jobs and create unsafe cars.

The Senate legislation does not call for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling, as the House version does. Both chambers have approved budget resolutions that call for opening the refuge, which is a top priority of the Bush administration. Final votes must be taken.

Both versions of the legislation mandate the use of more ethanol and other agriculture-derived fuels by 2012, though the Senate version requires more than the House bill.

The Senate bill also includes government-backed loans for new power plants that create electricity from cleaner-burning coal and facilities that would convert coal into gas. Taxpayer advocates worried that companies could default, leaving the government to pay the bill.

To address rising natural gas prices, the legislation gives authority to federal regulators to approve terminals to receive imports of liquefied natural gas. Supporters said that would clear the way for more terminals to be constructed by limiting state challenges. Opponents said the measure would allow federal officials to force terminals on communities that do not want them.

The legislation seeks to encourage the construction of nuclear power plants using a combination of incentives.

In an effort to improve the reliability of the electrical grid, the Senate bill calls for mandatory and enforceable rules for utilities. Currently, those regulations are voluntary. The bill also gives the federal government new authority in approving the location of electrical transmission lines.

The Senate legislation goes much further than the House measure in encouraging energy efficiency. It provides tax breaks for energy efficient commercial buildings, homes and appliances.