This is the third time Hatch has introduced the legislation, which has been attached to every major energy bill debated by Congress over the past four years. But the failure of Congress to enact comprehensive energy legislation has always left it hanging.

With gas prices hovering around $2.25 a gallon — and with some analysts predicting the price of crude oil could still double — Hatch believes this could be the year Congress finally embraces the CLEAR Act.

The bill has broad bipartisan support in the Senate, but House members have indicated they are opposed to tax incentives, which could mean the bill will have to be pared back at some point.

Passage of the bill could be good news to Utah-based Raser Technologies, which develops advanced electric motor and related technologies with the goal of lowering market barriers to mass production.

"Americans want clean and fuel efficient cars, but we require the high performance we're used to, consistent with our various needs and lifestyles," said David West, vice president of marketing for the company. "The CLEAR Act provides Americans the economic stimulus to embrace these benefits in the very near term."

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