U.S. Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) will introduce legislation next week to increase domestic energy production dramatically and permit oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The bill will contain billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for energy exploration. The nuclear power industry — already in the midst of something of a renaissance — would also get a boost from the bill. Meanwhile, the Energy Department is offering $95 million in matching grants to coal-powered electricity plants. The program aims to get more electricity from the plants and cut down on pollution per unit of electricity. The Clean Air Trust, an environmental group, has expressed skepticism about the program’s environmental benefits.
