Washington ? The House approved a far-ranging energy bill Thursday that would open an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling and shield makers of a controversial gasoline additive from environmental lawsuits — both issues likely to meet strong opposition in the Senate.

The bill also would funnel more than $12 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to energy companies. Opponents of the legislation said it would do little to foster less energy use. A proposal to require higher fuel economy for cars was rejected.

The administration embraced the legislation, although a White House analysis expressed reservations about the size of the incentives to the oil and gas industries, especially a $2 billion subsidy for developing oil and gas in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

After passage, President Bush praised the bill as “an important step to secure our energy future and to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy.” Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the measure was not perfect, but “we now have a bill, something to work with.”

After two days of debate and amendments, the legislation was approved 249-183 with 41 Democrats joining the GOP majority.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said the size of the Democratic support was a sign that this year’s legislation might fare better in the Senate than the bill two years ago that died there.

The Senate was expected to develop its bill in the coming weeks, hoping to finish by mid-May, a target some call too optimistic. The House and Senate versions then would have to be meshed in negotiations.

To foster less energy use, the House bill calls for extending daylight-saving time by two months and offering tax breaks for homeowners to install more energy-efficient windows and insulation. The bill’s supporters also said that provisions requiring refiners to use more corn-based ethanol in gasoline and allowing oil drilling in the Alaska refuge would reduce U.S. reliance on imports.