[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 18 (Monday, May 7, 2001)]
[Pages 696-698]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Energy Advisers and an Exchange With
Reporters
May 3, 2001
California Energy Shortages
The President. I want to thank you all for coming today. I've
assembled a team within my administration, in particular, the Secretary
of Energy, as well as the Deputy Secretary of Defense, to discuss
energy.
As the country knows, we're in the process of developing a
comprehensive energy plan that will work to increase supplies, as well
as encourage conservation. This is a long-run solution to the energy
problems we now face.
This administration is deeply concerned about California and its
citizens. We're worried about blackouts that may occur this summer, and
we want to be a part of any solutions. Since I became sworn-in, we've
been working with the State of California to provide regulatory relief
to encourage an increase in the amount of supplies available for the
consumers in that State.
Today I am instructing all agencies, Federal agencies, to reduce
their peak hour electricity use in the State of California. And the
Secretary of Energy will be traveling to the State today to consult with
the Governor of the State of California, as well as work with our
respective agencies in that State.
Secondly, I am pleased to report that the Secretary of Defense,
after a careful review, believes that this Department, which has got a
large presence in the State of California, can reduce peak hour usage by
10 percent and can do so without harming military readiness.
We're also--and the Secretary is going to make it clear to the
officials in the State of California that should Governor Davis, or any
other Governor, for that matter, request power generating units owned by
the Federal Government, they'll be available to help in the case of an
emergency.
As well, FEMA, under Joe Allbaugh, is developing plans to help
States that do face blackouts, to make sure the citizenry doesn't get
harmed in any way.
This is a serious situation in the State of California. And as I
said from the very beginning of my administration, we'll work to help
California in any way we can. And the best way we can is to be good
citizens. So I want to appreciate very much, Mr. Secretary, all your
work, and I know you'd like to say a few words.
[At this point, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham made brief remarks.]
The President. And we have with us Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul
Wolfowitz.
[Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz made brief remarks.]
Government Energy Policy Review
Q. Mr. President, are you asking Federal agencies nationwide to cut
back? And what will the White House do?
The President. Well, I think we ought to ask all agencies to review
energy policy. We're focused right now on California because that's a
State that's going to suffer blackouts. But we've always got to be
mindful of being energy efficient.
And since I've asked other agencies to review their policy, I'm
going to ask the White House to do the same. Chief of Staff Andy Card
has done just that today. We want to be good, efficient users of energy
here in the White House.
Stretch [Dick Keil, Bloomberg Radio].
[[Page 697]]
Energy Conservation
Q. Mr. President, your energy team is preparing a long-term report,
and the Vice President earlier this week gave a speech in Toronto that
really, frankly, gave short shrift to the concept of conservation and
concentrated, instead, on exploration, finding new ways to get natural
gas pipelines built.
Will conservation be a primary focus of the long-term plan, or is
this really just something that's for the here and now and the short-
term in California?
The President. Oh, I think conservation has got to be an integral
part of making sure we've got a reasonable energy policy. But what the
Vice President was saying is we can't conserve our way to energy
independence; nor can we conserve our way to having enough energy
available. So we've got to do both. We must conserve, but we've also got
to find new sources of energy.
I haven't seen the final report yet, but I suspect the American
people will find a balanced approach. But what people need to hear, loud
and clear, is that we're running out of energy in America. And it is so
important for this Nation to improve its infrastructure so we can not
only deliver supplies, but we need to go find new supply. And I strongly
believe we can do so in an environmentally friendly way.
This Nation is confronted with a major problem. And this
administration is going to be honest with the American people about the
nature of the problem, and we're going to come up with some solutions.
And it's going to take a lot of political will for people to buck some
of the trends that somehow believe--who believe that without finding
additional supplies of energy, this Nation is going to be okay.
Q. If I could follow-up, sir? Will there be a more prominent role
for nuclear power, as part of your plan?
The President. You must wait until the report comes out, because I'm
going to have to, too, until I see the final copy. But I would suggest
that what this Nation needs to do is review all options.
John [John Cochran, ABC News].
Q. Sir, the Vice President seemed to be saying on Monday that
Americans were already pretty energy efficient, so there's not much to
be gained by conservation. Do you agree with that?
The President. Well, I agree that we've made great strides in energy
efficiency; home building materials are more efficient. But we just
found a place where we can reduce energy during peak hours by 10
percent. We must continue to find.
But what the Vice President and I understand is that you cannot
conserve your way to energy independence. We can do a better job in
conservation, but we darn sure have to do a better job of finding more
supply. It is naive for the American people and its--and those who
purport to speak for the American people, some of those, to say that we
can be okay, from an energy perspective, by only focusing on
conservation. We've got to find additional supplies of energy.
One thing this administration will do is we're going to do our part
when it comes to conservation in the State of California. But we will be
honest with the American people. And the American people need to have an
honest assessment of the issues this country faces, not only short term
but long term. And that's exactly what the Vice President was saying the
other day in Canada. And this report will be that way.
Steve, [Steve Holland, Reuters] final question.
China-U.S. Relations
Q. Sir, on the China policy, could you--could I ask you to explain
what happened yesterday with the Rumsfeld order, and what will it take
now to have military-to-military exchanges with the Chinese?
The President. In terms of what they call the ticktock, you need to
talk to the folks at the Defense Department. But what the Secretary was
rightly doing was saying that we're going to review all opportunities to
interface with the Chinese. And if it enhances our relationship, it
might make sense. If it's a useless exercise and it doesn't make the
relationship any better, then we won't do that.
But each opportunity will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. That
makes sense. We've only been in office for 104 days. We've got to review
all policy that we inherited.
[[Page 698]]
But what the Chinese must understand is that we'll be firm in our
philosophy, consistent in our beliefs, and we want to work to have a
relationship that is a positive relationship for both countries.
Meeting With Israeli Foreign Minister
Q. Do you feel better after seeing Foreign Minister Peres this
morning?
The President. Had a good visit with him.
Q. [Inaudible]--better after talking to him?
The President. Well, he's an optimistic person. And I was so pleased
that Mr. Peres came by. I don't know what his statements were like to
the press, but he leaves knowing full well this administration is
actively engaged at, first and foremost, trying to break the cycle of
terrorism that grips that part of the world.
But he gave me a very good assessment of how he viewed the world.
And he's always been an optimistic person, so I do feel better having
talked to him. He's a fine statesman, as well.
Note: The President spoke at 1:55 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Gray Davis of
California and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of Israel. A tape was not
available for verification of the content of these remarks.