News

The U.S. Congress approved by a wide margin the first increase in automobile fuel economy in 32 years yesterday, and President George W. Bush plans to sign the legislation quickly, accepting the mandates on the auto industry.

The energy bill, boosting mileage by 40 per cent to 35 miles a gallon (about 15 kilometres a litre), passed the House 314-100 and now goes to the White House, after the Senate's approval last week.

In a statement, the White House said Mr. Bush will sign the legislation at the Energy Department today.

In a dramatic shift to spur increased demand for non-fossil fuels, the bill also requires a six-fold increase in ethanol use to 136 billion litres a year by 2022, a boon to farmers. And it requires new energy-efficiency standards for an array of appliances, lighting, and commercial and government buildings.

"This is a choice between yesterday and tomorrow" on energy policy, declared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was closely involved in crafting the legislation. "It's groundbreaking in what it will do."

While some Republicans criticized the bill for failing to address the need for more domestic oil and natural-gas production, 95 GOP lawmakers joined Democrats in support of the bill.

Ms. Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada acknowledged they didn't get all they wanted, unable to push through a tax package that would have rolled back $13.5-billion (U.S.) in tax breaks for oil companies and used the money to help spur wind, solar and biomass energy development and conservation programs.

The House passed the tax provisions, but the Senate fell one vote short of getting it through under threat of a presidential veto and a Republican filibuster. "Were going to be back and get the vote quicker than you think," Mr. Reid said at a news conference with Ms. Pelosi. But Democrats said those shortcomings shouldn't take away from the importance of the approved bill.

"This legislation is a historic turning point in energy policy," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, because it will cut demand for foreign oil and promote non-fossil fuels that will cut greenhouse-gas emissions linked to global warming.