STATE OF UNION BLUNTS ENERGY ATTACKS BUT LEAVES OIL USE UNRESOLVED

President Bush's State of the Union call for a new emphasis on renewable fuels and advanced vehicles reflects an effort to blunt ongoing Democratic criticism of the administration's oil-industry ties but fails to resolve significant technical and political questions obstructing efforts to reduce oil use, according to auto industry, environmentalist, and other sources. Industry and other sources say Bush's remarks show Republicans regard both the 2005 energy law and the White House's existing hydrogen initiative as an insufficient political response...