WASHINGTON, Nov 22: The Senate has stalled a 32-billion-dollar energy bill whose Republican backers say would bolster a creaky power grid and cut US dependence on foreign oil.

Democrats and environmentalists said the bill was rife with corporate giveaways and would bar lawsuits against makers of a gasoline additive that has tainted US ground water.

The lower House of Representatives approved the bill by a largely party-line vote of 246-180 on Tuesday, the first step toward passage of an energy policy initiated by President George W. Bush two years ago.

The Senate voted 57-40 to end debate on the bill — three votes short of the 60 votes needed. Six Republicans voted against ending the move to force a final vote.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he would try again for a final vote on the bill before the Senate adjourns for the year in a few days.

Despite its flaws, the measure is a “good bill, a balanced bill, and it will make Americans more energy secure,” Frist said.

“It really doesn’t help the Senate to prolong the inevitable,” said Senate Democratic Whip Harry Reid of Nevada.

“The inevitable is that this bill is history. It’s not going to go anyplace.”

“This nation needs an energy bill. It needs an energy plan. A minority of senators are holding it up. For the sake of our national security and economic security, the Senate has got to pass this bill,” President George W. Bush said upon returning from a three-day trip to Britain late Friday.

The bill contains tens of billions of dollars in tax cuts and other benefits for the oil, gas, coal, ethanol and nuclear industries.—AFP