The House on Tuesday approved an energy bill to increase the fuel efficiency of U.S. cars and trucks for the first time since 1975, boost production of renewable motor fuels like ethanol and cut energy use in light bulbs and appliances.
The Senate approved the same bill last week and President Bush will sign the measure into law Wednesday, the White House said.
To win the backing of Bush and many Republican lawmakers, Democratic congressional leaders had to drop from the bill provisions that would have imposed about $13 billion in taxes on big oil and gas companies and required utilities to generate 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
The House easily cleared the bill in a 314-to-100 vote.
The centerpiece of the legislation will raise the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks by 40 percent to an average 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
Passenger cars now must get 27.5 miles a gallon and minivans, SUVs and other light trucks get 22.2 miles a gallon.