[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.