With promises for the “de-carbonization of energy,” more stateinvolvement in Energy Department’s initiatives, and “help for ourown people-domestic oil and gas producers,” the new DOE SecretaryBill Richardson sparked a standing ovation from approximately 400attendees at the DOE-NARUC Natural Gas Conference in Pittsburghlast week.

The Energy Department has “paid too much attention to theCongress and not enough to the states,” Richardson told thegathering of state regulatory personnel and industryrepresentatives. He said he hoped to “beef up new ways to work withstate regulatory agencies,” and draw them into the process for DOEinitiatives, including legislation to restructure the electricindustry. A key factor in electric industry changes and in meetingenvironmental targets is the use of natural gas, the formereight-term congressman from New Mexico and long-time member of theHouse Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee said.

DOE recognizes the “potential of natural gas to more cleanlypower our country.” Its expanded use will lead to the”de-carbonization of energy,” Richardson said.

As DOE secretary, which he has been for six weeks now, Richardsaid he would make sure DOE either “provides the stimulus” forgreater gas use or “gets out of the way” of the industry. He saidhe fully supports legislation currently before Congress that wouldset efficiency standards for energy appliances for federal use thatwould consider the full fuel cycle, including emissions and energycosts. “This is a solid first step to leveling the playing field.”Richardson said he wants to “reduce the barriers for supply anddemand of natural gas.”

Also, Richardson left late last week for the Asian PacificEconomic Cooperative Energy Industry conference, where he plannedto present an initiative to create open and competitive gas marketsand promote investment in gas infrastructure and developmentprojects to help rebuild Asian economies.

He said one of his main priorities in the next session ofcongress would be creation of a new electric infrastructure. DOE isin process of fine tuning its electric restructuring bill and isstarting to build state support. Richardson asked for help fromNARUC attendees.

To deal with the issue of climate change Richardson wants to seea significant portion of DOE’s R&ampD budget devoted to natural gaswhich he believes will serve as a bridge fuel to a cleanerenvironment. An assistant secretary currently is doing a majorreview of DOE’s R&ampD budget with an eye to emphasizingtechnologies aimed at clean power generation, he said.

Richardson said he also is looking at help for marginal wellproducers, possibly in the form of tax relief, and at measures forpipeline deregulation.

Ellen Beswick

©Copyright 1998 Intelligence Press, Inc. All rightsreserved. The preceding news report may not be republished orredistributed in whole or in part without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.