Lott to back plan that includes drilling in wildlife refuge.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

WASHINGTON _ Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott plans to co-sponsor energy legislation this month that would encourage domestic oil production, including a controversial proposal to open the Arctic wildlife refuge to drilling.

Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Ala., authored the bill, which would include incentives for conservation, marginal wells and clean coal technology. It would also promote alternative energy and fuels.

Both big political parties generally agree the country should secure more energy independence, but there is debate over how to become less dependent on imports without harming the environment. Republicans tend to favor increasing domestic …