Energy groups are focusing on the Senate after the House cleared a bill to provide $17.6 billion of tax breaks for conservation and renewable power sources. But the measure faces hurdles: the 236-182 vote on Feb. 27 fell short of the margin needed to overturn a threatened presidential veto. The bill has new tax breaks and multiyear extensions for others slated to lapse on Dec. 31, such as a credit for wind and other renewables.

Advocates of renewable energy praised the bill, but GOP leaders slammed it because it has revenue-raisers that effectively would hike oil companies’ taxes. Similar measures have come up in Congress in the last couple of years but were not enacted because of opposition from the White House and congressional critics, chiefly Republicans.