Something like that is what we would like to see happen to energy legislation in Congress. The final bill should include the renewable energy standard that the House just passed and the tougher vehicle fuel economy standard that the Senate passed in June. Together, the two might start this nation down the road to recovery from its fossil fuel addiction.

That could mean less dependence on foreign oil, cleaner air and water and a down payment on cutting greenhouse gases, which, in turn, could slow global warming.

The renewable energy standard in the House bill would require investor-owned utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from wind, solar, biomass and other renewable sources by the year 2020. Fortunately, nuclear power, which comes from a limited fuel, would not be defined as a renewable source. However, the standard would allow 4 percent to be achieved through energy efficiency.

Some 23 states already have renewable energy standards. Unfortunately, Utah, with its abundant potential for solar and geothermal development, is not among them. If the national renewable energy standard does not survive in the Congress, Utah should enact its own.

The case for tougher vehicle fuel efficiency standards is even stronger. Congress has not adjusted the combined standard, which averages various vehicles, since 1975, long before the advent of hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius. The bill the Senate enacted in June would raise the fleet standard from 25 miles per gallon today to 35 mpg by 2020.

That may be the simplest way to cut oil consumption and air pollution, assuming that Americans simultaneously do other things, such as drive fewer miles. The huge House and Senate energy bill includes all kinds of strategies, from requiring better energy efficiency in buildings and appliances to spending more money on research of promising technologies.

But renewable energy and tighter vehicle fuel efficiency standards are two of the most important keys. A final bill should include both.