Senate OKs bill to promote wide variety of energy sources

WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly approved a far-reaching energy bill Wednesday that reflects significant changes in U.S. oil and natural gas production over the past decade and boosts alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power.

The bill would boost renewables such as solar and wind power, as well as hydropower, geothermal energy and even critical minerals such as cobalt, beryllium and lithium that are used in cell phones, computers and other electronics.

The bill also would encourage so-called clean-coal technology, including projects to capture carbon dioxide generated by coal-fired power plants, and increase public-private partnerships to develop advanced nuclear technologies.

The Sierra Club, the nation’s largest environmental group, said the bill would “boost dirty fossil fuels” such as coal and natural gas and encourage “dangerous nuclear projects” while undermining Obama’s Clean Power Plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.