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Bush Releases More Oil Reserves, Urges Conservation

Posted on: Tuesday, 27 September 2005, 00:00 CDT

By Daily News, New York

Sep. 27--WASHINGTON -- President Bush tried to ease gas shortages in the wake of two devastating hurricanes by reopening the spigot on the nation's fuel reserves and urging people to cut back on travel.

"The storm affected the ability to get gasoline to markets," Bush said.

Although Hurricane Rita had spared the oil and natural gas network in the Gulf of Mexico, much of it was closed down in anticipation of the storm. The Energy Department said about 25 percent of U.S. refining capacity remained shut yesterday.

Bush detailed his plan to save fuel after an Energy Department briefing on the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"We can encourage employees to car-pool or use mass transit, and we can shift peak electricity use to off-peak hours. There's ways for the federal government to lead when it comes to conservation," he said.

Analysts are still predicting that retail gasoline prices may remain near $3 a gallon for weeks or even months longer.

Bush isn't curtailing his own travels. He will be going down to the region later this week for a seventh time since Katrina hit.

First Lady Laura Bush will also be traveling to the gulf region today to join in the filming of ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" show at the Biloxi, Miss., Community Center. Laura Bush will join the cast in distributing clothes and other goods donated by businesses, the spokeswoman said.

The President said he would extend waivers of environmental rules to allow fuel below government standards to be sold, and he lobbied for more nuclear power.

"It is clear that when you're dependent upon natural gas and/or hydrocarbons to fuel your economy and that supply gets disrupted, we need alternative sources of energy -- and that's why I believe so strongly in nuclear power," he said.

The attempted quick fixes irked some experts, who charged Bush ignores a need to increase fuel efficiency standards.

"It's a totally inadequate response . . . much of it is just misguided," said Dan Lashoff, senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "[Bush] did say 'conservation,' but he struggled to get the word out."

By Michael McAuliff and Kenneth R. Bazinet

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DIS,

Source: Daily News

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