Milwaukee -- Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham called on Americans to conserve energy in their homes and businesses to help ease pressure on the nation’s supply of natural gas while on a Smart Energy Campaign Tour stop at a Milwaukee area Menards today. 

“The demand for natural gas is growing faster than producers can get it out of the ground and ship it to consumers,” Secretary Abraham said.   “If we have an unusually hot summer, there’s a chance that prices could increase dramatically because of tight supplies.

The growing summer demand for natural gas, combined with heavy gas usage during this past winter’s unusually cold temperatures for much of the Nation, has left storage levels well below normal for this time of year, according to the department’s Energy Information Administration.

“That means we need smart energy use in our homes and businesses,” he said, unveiling a list of energy-saving tips and other advice for consumers on the Department of Energy’s web site, www.energysavers.gov. The site contains information on energy-saving home improvements -- including points on landscaping, roofing, heating and cooling system maintenance and buying energy-efficient appliances.

The Smart Energy Milwaukee tour stop included remarks by the Secretary and a showcase of the products available to help consumers lower their electricity bills.

“America’s natural gas shortage effects everyone; from senior citizens, living on fixed incomes, to small business owners trying to keep the lights on,” Abraham said.  “While we work to increase our production and storage capacities for natural gas, we must also focus on using our natural gas resources wisely and to our own best benefit.”

“But this natural gas problem took a long time to develop, and we won’t be able to solve it overnight,” he said.   “So while the government and industry work together on long-term solutions, we all need to use energy as wisely as we can.”

The Smart Energy Campaign, tied to President Bush’s national energy strategy, was announced on July 9.   The Smart Energy Campaign activities include:

• The Energysavers.gov website will educate consumers on specific steps they can take to conserve.   DOE will be asking other government agencies to link to the Energysavers.gov website.
• DOE will also be sending a letter to all 50 governors with recommended actions that states can take to improve the natural gas situation, including infrastructure improvements and joining the Smart Energy Campaign.
• DOE will contact news outlets through the country encouraging them to publicize the Smart Energy Campaign and Energysavers.gov website, along with an opinion editorial on the campaign for publication.
• DOE’s public service announcements, to be broadcast in English and Spanish, are available on the Energysavers.gov website for use by radio stations throughout the country.
• DOE’s regional summits on energy use will begin in Atlanta, with other cities to be announced later this summer.

The Smart Energy Tour included a stop in Long Island City, N.Y. yesterday, and trips to Philadelphia, Penn., Milwaukee, Wis., and Columbus, Ohio today.

Media Contact(s):
Jeanne Lopatto, 202/586-4940
Jana Toner, 202/586-4940