Energy bill approved by House panel News
Energy bill approved by House panel

[JURIST] The US House Ways and Means Committee [official website] approved a massive energy bill Wednesday. The Enhanced Energy Infrastructure and Technology Tax Act of 2005 [text and background materials] includes industrial tax breaks, extends the use of ethanol for farmers, and gives authorization for oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge. The House has supported opening drilling operations in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) [official website] – a provision that is all but certain to be rejected by the Senate. Democrats criticized the bill for not promoting renewable energy sources. The bill is set to go to the full House next week. AP has more.