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The Clinton-Gore Administration: Taking Action
To Ensure
The Federal Government Does Its Part To Help
California Meet Its Electricity Needs
August 3, 2000 |
President Clinton today directed all federal agencies to do their part
to help California meet its electricity needs this summer. The President
emphasized that as one of the largest consumers of electricity in California
(representing approximately 2% of total electricity use), the Federal
Government should take steps to reduce electricity consumption and increase
electricity availability. Increased demand for electricity during the summer
has made it challenging for California electric utilities to meet the demand of
their customers. According to estimates by the Department of Energy,
implementation of the measures announced today would result in approximately a
5% reduction in electricity use by federal facilities in California, helping
reduce the risk of an electricity shortage.
PRESIDENT CLINTON TODAY DIRECTED FEDERAL AGENCIES TO TAKE ACTION TO
HELP THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA REDUCE ELECTRICITY DEMAND:
- Managers of all Federal buildings in California should take steps to
reduce consumption of power to the maximum extent practicable consistent with
the health and welfare of employees; and,
- Federal agencies should coordinate with state and local government
agencies to minimize the use of electricity in all government buildings in
California.
IN ADDITION, PRESIDENT CLINTON TODAY DIRECTED FEDERAL AGENCIES TO
TAKE STEPS TO HELP CALIFORNIA MAXIMIZE AVAILABLE ELECTRICITY: While most of
the electricity in the Western United States is generated and marketed by
privately and publicly owned utilities, the Federal government also generates
and markets electricity in the region. For the duration of the current power
shortage, President Clinton is directing that:
- Federal agencies that generate electricity take all possible measures
to maximize the amount of electricity that can be delivered to California;
- The Federal Power Marketing Administrations take all steps necessary
to maximize the availability of electricity in California; and,
- Federal agencies work with the state of California to develop
procedures governing the use of backup power generation in power shortage
emergencies.
PRESIDENT CLINTON ALSO TODAY ASKED FEDERAL AGENCIES TO CONTINUE TO
WORK OVER THE LONG TERM TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY: The President also
today directed federal agencies to continue to work toward the goals of
Executive Order 13123, Greening the Government Through Efficient Energy
Management, to help reduce federal consumption of electricity. In addition, he
urged federal agencies to continue working with Congress on comprehensive
electricity restructuring legislation, which can promote greater investment in
generation and transmission facilities, and enhance the efficiency of the
interstate transmission grid; and on other initiatives to ensure the
availability of affordable and environmentally responsible energy to meet
America's energy needs in the 21st century.
TODAY'S ACTION BUILDS ON ONGOING EFFORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY TO PLAN FOR REDUCED USE OF ELECTRICITY IN FEDERAL FACILITIES: The
Department of Energy, and the General Services Administration, have worked
closely with federal agencies to develop plans to improve energy efficiency for
individual Federal facilities in support of local electricity reduction
efforts. Key components of this effort include specific identification of
short- and long-term electricity load reduction measures in a facility,
monitoring of total facility demand, strengthened coordination with local
utilities, and enhanced communications with employees about benefits of and
best practices for increased energy efficiency. |
