The best that can be said about the compromise energy bill Congress passed is that it presses us to take steps toward developing an alternative-energy industry. But they're baby steps, which means lawmakers have missed an opportunity to steer the country off our current course toward continued oil dependency.

Of course, the emergence of the long-stalled package drew cheers from its supporters. Indeed, the nation desperately needs energy self-sufficiency, but this initiative falls far short at a time when consumers feel increasingly frustrated by skyrocketing fuel costs.

While we're handing out more and more at the gas pump, it's galling to realize that the same oil companies collecting this windfall are the chief beneficiaries of the tax breaks and other supports provided by the energy bill.

A few onerous proposals were deleted, including a liability waiver for contamination by the gasoline additive MTBE. And the section permitting drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was excised to avert a filibuster. When the measure comes up for debate in September, it won't be subject to filibuster, so opponents must lobby hard to stop it. The energy package, unfortunately, already has enabled enough drilling to go on in the Gulf of Mexico.

As for efforts to nurture alternative-energy development, it seems clear that bio-ethanol supports in the bill are there more as a nod to agricultural interests, but the country will have to make do with these and other incentives. It's just a shame that they're so limited at a time when America's need for a real energy course correction is so great.