WASHINGTON, Oct 27: President Bush on Friday again pushed the US Senate to pass a broad energy bill that would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, arguing that the country’s energy policies still need an overhaul even though energy prices have fallen.

We need an energy plan for America, Bush said in speech to business leaders at the White House.

Oh, I understand that energy prices are low right now. Thank goodness. But that shouldn’t lead our nation to complacency, he said.

Natural gas, gasoline and heating oil costs have fallen dramatically from a year ago and supplies are plentiful.

Gasoline prices alone are now at their lowest level since January 2000 due to a drop in petroleum demand from less air travel following the Sept. 11, attacks and the slowing US economy.

Nonetheless, drilling in the Arctic refuge is a central part of the administration’s plan to boost domestic energy supplies and reduce foreign oil imports.

We need to be more self-reliant and self-sufficient. It is in our nation’s national interest that we develop more energy supplies at home, Bush said.

Government estimates say the Arctic refuge could hold as much as 16 billion barrels of oil, enough to replace the amount of crude the United States imports from Iraq for 70 years.

Bush said he also favors building more nuclear power plants, implementing energy conservation measures and modernizing the country’s pipelines and other energy infrastructure.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed in early August its energy legislation that would give oil firms access to the refuge.

The Senate has yet to act, and Senate Majority Tom Daschle said the vote on an energy bill may have to wait until next year.

It’s in our national interest to get a bill to my desk, and I urge the Senate to do so, Bush said.

Senate Democrats are working to finalize a comprehensive energy bill, but it would not contain language to open the refuge.

Republican lawmakers want to amend to bill to allow drilling in the refuge.

Republicans say they have won over a majority of lawmakers to pass such a bill, but Daschle has told them they must get the 60 votes needed to end a threatened filibuster by Democratic lawmakers who oppose drilling in the refuge.—Reuters