Nov 28 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Justin Hyde Detroit Free Press

Talks in the House and Senate over a compromise on fuel economy increases inched forward Tuesday toward today's deadline set by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for finishing work on an overall energy bill.

While the outlines of a possible deal appeared firm -- a 35-mile-per-gallon target for the industry by 2020, with separate rules for cars and trucks -- several details remained in flux, such as credits to automakers for building vehicles that can burn renewable fuels.

No deal between industry supporters and backers of the Senate's proposed increase had been reached late Tuesday evening. People familiar with the talks said Pelosi, D-Calif., had set today's deadline for completing a deal on fuel economy and other issues so that the energy bill could be put into legal language and come to the floor of the House and Senate next Wednesday and Thursday.

Pelosi said in a news release late Monday that she planned to bring an energy bill to the floor next week, adding "we have made significant progress toward completing this package."

The push to get a broad energy bill comes in part from a desire by Democratic leaders to have something in hand before they travel to a United Nations conference on global warming in Bali, Indonesia, next week.

Contact JUSTIN HYDE at 202-906-8204 or jhyde@freepress.com.