US Congress presented the US energy bill – drafted almost wholly by Republicans and passed 246 to 180 – to the Senate in late November. But while Republicans have had to drop severalcontroversial provisions, Democrats are still concerned that the legislationfavours energy companies over consumers. Critics also say it weakens clean airlaws and does little either to reduce US gasoline consumption or ease dependenceon foreign oil imports.

Not surprisingly, the bill contains provisions seeking to