President Bush signed a long–awaited energy bill Monday that garnered support from Western Slope Representative John Salazar, even though he had reservations about some of the tax breaks in the 1,700 page legislation. The president flew from his Texas ranch to Sandia National Laboratories to sign the bill, which passed with bipartisan support.
Supporters of the bill say in the long run the new laws will refocus the nation's energy priorities and give more support to renewable energy. Salazar says he believes dependence on foreign oil is the nation's biggest weakness. He says he supports the renewable energy incentives in the bill and there is much in it to benefit farmers.
Salazar says he doesn't like the $14.5 billion dollars in tax breaks given to energy companies over the next decade. He believes there should have been a requirement that more gasoline refineries be built to meet demand.
Lack of refinery capacity is partly responsible for high gasoline prices.
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