[JURIST] The US Senate on Tuesday passed a controversial energy bill [text] giving large sums of money to industry in incentives and pushing for more efficient use of energy through renewable resources. Republican and Democrats came together to pass the bill 82-12 [roll call] but it can only become law if the language can be reconciled with a similar House bill passed in April [JURIST report]. Previous attempts to find common ground between the House and Senate have failed over the issue of liability for makers of MTBE [EPA overview], a substance which makes fuel burn more completely. Environmental group Sierra Club [advocacy website] expressed opposition [press release] to the Senate bill saying it does "virtually nothing to lower our dependence on oil." AFP has more.