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Bush pushes energy plan, alternative-fueled cars

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Tuesday urged Congress to pass a comprehensive energy plan to increase domestic energy supplies, and proposed funds to develop hydrogen-powered automobiles that would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

In his State of the Union speech to Congress, Bush said promoting energy independence for the United States and dramatically improving the environment was one of the four domestic goals he wanted lawmakers to address this year.

Bush called for passage of his national energy plan, which includes giving oil companies access to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, although he did not specifically mention opening the refuge up to oil drilling.

Last year the Senate, which was Democrat-controlled at the time, soundly defeated the White House plan to tap the refuge's potential 16 billion barrels of crude. Bush has a better chance of passing an energy bill this year with Republican majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Green groups have slammed the president's energy and environmental proposals, arguing the Bush administration does not do enough to promote energy conservation.

Environmentalists argue there is not enough oil in the Arctic refuge to justify harming the wildlife there. Instead, they say, the government should significantly boost mileage standards for gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles to cut gasoline consumption and oil imports.

To promote a cleaner environment and tackle dependence on foreign crude, Bush proposed research funding of $1.2 billion to build hydrogen-powered vehicles that would not produce polluting exhaust fumes.

"With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom -- so that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen and pollution free," Bush said in his speech.

The president also asked Congress to pass his "Clear Skies" legislation that would require a 70 percent cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years.