Bloomberg reports the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would overhaul car fuel economy standards for the first time in more than two decades and quadruple use of alternative fuels.

The energy bill, approved 65 to 27 last night, would force automakers to build cars that average 35 miles a gallon by model year 2020, a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency. The measure also responds to President George W. Bush's call to boost the use of alternative fuels by requiring 36 billion gallons of ethanol and other so-called biofuels by 2022.

Automakers, including General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., have tried to block the mileage requirements, sparring with environmental groups that favor them. Tom LaSorda, head of the U.S. operations of DaimlerChrysler AG, has said a standard of 35 miles per gallon will ``cripple our business.''
WHY?

The record gasoline prices and concerns about national security and global warming have led to increasing calls to reduce U.S. petroleum consumption. Still, Democrats failed yesterday on key pieces of their legislative effort, including the package that would have subsidized renewable energy with increased taxes on the oil industry.
Which would be passed on to the consumers so it certainly won't hurt oil companies. Might as well tax us directly instead of making us believe Congress is taking on big oil.