Washington, DC  On Monday, President Bush came to the headquarters of the Department of Energy (DOE) to get a briefing on the Nation's energy infrastructure from Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman and Interior Secretary Gale Norton. The briefing, which took place in the DOE Emergency Operations Center, focused on the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on oil and natural gas production, refining, and distribution in the Gulf region. While damages from the hurricanes continue to be assessed, the President asked all Americans to be better conservers of energy and he directed the federal government to lead energy conservation by curtailing nonessential travel and encouraging employees to carpool and use mass transit.

White House Press Release