Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said Wednesday that DOE is teaming up with FERC, EPA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Commerce, Interior and Agriculture departments in a new interagency group that will develop recommendations on how to increase domestic natural gas supply and promote energy efficiency.

Abraham said the group was being formed in the interest of energy security and consumer affordability and will focus on identifying specific near- and long-term actions that could expand domestic natural gas supplies. The new Interagency Working Group will also examine the findings of the National Petroleum Council’s (NPC) September 2003 Natural Gas Study and determine the study’s consistency with the President’s National Energy Policy.

“The National Petroleum Council’s Natural Gas Study illustrates a fundamental shift in the natural gas supply and demand balance that has resulted in higher prices and volatility in recent years,” Abraham said. “The NPC report reminds us that America faces serious challenges concerning natural gas. These challenges affect all Americans, from senior citizens on fixed incomes struggling to pay their heating bills, to workers in natural-gas intensive industries. If we do nothing, the problems experienced in recent years will only get worse.”

DOE said implementation of any recommendations from the group may require the federal government to serve in a facilitator/coordinator role to achieve a “harmonized response by all parties.” Many of the recommendations could involve action by the states, Congress and other countries, DOE said.

A series of public workshops are planned to review recommendations from the 2003 NPC study. Representatives from government, stakeholders, industry representatives and the general public will be invited to participate. The first workshop will be held in Washington, DC on June 21. Findings and outcomes from the workshop will be presented at the regularly scheduled meeting of the NPC on June 22.

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