WASHINGTON (AP) — Energy and environment provisions in the massive year-end spending and tax bills are giving both parties reasons to celebrate.
Republicans are hailing the likely demise of a 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports, as well as spending limits imposed on the Environmental Protection Agency, a longtime GOP target.
Democrats are cheering five-year extensions of tax credits for wind and solar energy producers and renewal of a land and water conservation fund that protects parks, public lands, historic sites and battlefields.
Democrats used the threat of President Barack Obama’s veto to block GOP proposals to thwart executive-branch regulations on clean air and water as congressional leaders and the White House hammered out the massive budget deal.
Lawmakers expect to vote on the agreement by week’s end.
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