US Bill paves way for oil drilling in Alaskan refuge

Much of the legislation focuses on conventional sources of energy and provides relatively little for conservation and alternative forms of energy. The Bill, reports The Washington Post, calls for opening Alaska\'s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development, and alters the Clean Air Act by giving localities whose polluted air comes from distant states more time to meet national air-quality standards. It would grant funding for research into oil and natural gas drilling in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Supporters said the legislation eventually would help bring down prices. Opponents said it would not moderate consumer prices and instead would further inflate energy companies\' soaring profits. Full report in The Washington Post