Secretary of Energy, California Officials Share Energy-saving Strategies
US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham met with federal officials in San Francisco last week to determine how federal agencies based in California, which use approximately 1.5 percent of the state's total energy load, can cut energy demand to help relieve the California energy crisis.
The meeting followed President George W. Bush's announcement requiring federal agencies to take immediate steps to conserve energy and reduce peak load at their facilities. To achieve conservation, the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a detailed action plan. During Stage 2 or Stage 3 emergencies in California, facilities are to rapidly reduce electricity loads through increasing indoor air temperature to 78 degrees or shutting off non-essential equipment and lighting.