Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed the first comprehensive energy package in more than a decade that would provide a plan for domestic energy production, improve energy conservation and increase energy efficiency, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.

“Energy is not only what fuels our cars and lights our homes, it fuels our nation’s economy and has put Wyoming’s natural resources on the map,” said Enzi. “This bill recognizes that Wyoming holds one of the keys to reasonable prices at the pump in the long term and to advancing alternative fuel methods that will decrease reliance on foreign sources of energy. This bill has been in the making for years. I am pleased to have been part of this historical bill that provides a roadmap to fulfilling our nation’s energy needs.”

The Senate passed the energy bill conference report, H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, by a vote of 74-26 Friday morning. The House passed the conference report Thursday by a vote of 275-156. It will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.

The bill creates a comprehensive national energy policy with the goal of expanding domestic energy production, increasing conservation and efficiency efforts while decreasing dependence on foreign oil. The bill would authorize full funding of President Bush’s Clean Coal Power Initiative of $200 million annually to be spent on clean coal research in coal-based gasification technologies. It would also repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 to increase investment in electricity transmission and generation.

Enzi noted that the legislation provides production incentives for oil and gas exploration and seeks to maintain the nation’s coal production capacity.

Enzi was able to secure numerous projects for Wyoming, many of which he has worked on for years, including a provision that would allow oil refineries to expense machinery on their tax forms. This provision could potentially help allow investment and expansion in currently existing refineries in Evansville, Evanston, Cheyenne, Newcastle and Sinclair.

The shifting of daylight-saving time is also included in the energy bill to provide an extra week of light in the fall and three weeks in the spring to conserve energy. Enzi, along with a Sheridan school teacher, has been working to shift daylight-saving time by a week in the fall until after Halloween so children will be able to trick-or-treat more safely. Enzi has introduced the Halloween Safety Act each Congress since 1999 and the energy bill includes language that would achieve the changes set forth in Enzi’s act as well as adding three weeks of light in the spring.

“We have to change our clocks twice a year regardless of the week so this small change to provide more daylight would provide benefits not only for energy conservation but would ensure that our children can collect treats walking the streets in the safety of daylight,” said Enzi. Another provision Enzi was able to include allows some leaseholders to recover leases that were terminated when computer problems at the Department of Interior prevented the Department from sending yearly rental notices. The bill would also help the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes to develop their own energy resources through grants and technical assistance.