Mr Bush said his national energy plan would "light the way to a brighter future" for the US, and tackle a decade of neglect in the energy sector.

The White House has earlier warned that the US faced the most serious energy shortage since the oil embargoes of the 1970s, with a fundamental imbalance between supply and demand.

The plans include increased oil exploration in an Arctic wildlife reserve, and an easing of regulations on oil refining, coal extraction and the building of new nuclear power plants.

Correspondents say that initially the administration was scornful of conservation, but the tone has now changed, with tax breaks for those who use energy-efficient cars and buildings totalling $10bn over 10 years.

Critics say the administration is full of former oil executives, from the president down, and its election campaign was heavily funded by the industry.

The Democrats have already criticised the failure of the plan to provide a short-term solution.

And environmentalists have attacked the plan for its reliance on inefficient and polluting energy sources. Source.