Washington (AP) Colorado Senator Ken Salazar is among a group of bipartisan lawmakers unveiling some legislation Wednesday aimed at curbing the nation's dependence on oil. The legislation includes tax breaks and loan guarantees to get automakers to switch from producing gas guzzlers to alternative technologies like hybrids or advanced diesel.
It also includes new tax breaks for those who buy such vehicles for car fleets and incentives for developing alternative fuels such as ethanol. Supporters say the measures will save 2 1/2 million barrels of oil a day within a decade.
Earlier this year, Democrats unsuccessfully tried to force
President Bush to develop programs to cut oil consumption by 1 million barrels a day. It was opposed by the G.O.P, but Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas says he supports the new approach because it's based on incentives.
Copyright 2005 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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