Spencer

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham has created an energy emergency task force within the Department of Energy (DOE) that will work in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to deal with blackouts and other energy emergencies this summer in California and elsewhere in the nation.

Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK) last week called on Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to provide the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with a comprehensive inventory of all possible energy sources to head off the worsening power shortages that are anticipated for California and other western markets this summer.

Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday called on Energy SecretarySpencer Abraham to provide the Senate Energy and Natural ResourcesCommittee with a comprehensive inventory of all possible energysources to head off the worsening power shortages that areanticipated for California and other western markets this summer.

Preparing the way for the Administration’s energy policyexpected in the next couple weeks, Energy Department SecretarySpencer Abraham warned a meeting of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce”the nation faces a major energy supply crisis over the next twodecades.”

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham met with Mexican EnergySecretary Enesto Martens and Canadian Energy Minister Ralph Goodalein Mexico City last week to establish a North American EnergyWorking Group to develop a comprehensive energy strategy for thecontinent.

The Senate over the weekend confirmed by a voice vote SpencerAbraham, a former senator from Michigan, as the secretary of theDepartment of Energy (DOE).

Energy Secretary nominee Spencer Abraham said during his Senateconfirmation hearing last Thursday that the grave power crisisfacing California would be a priority of the Bush White House. Butno sooner had those words been uttered than incoming PresidentGeorge W. Bush essentially wiped his hands clean of the state’sproblems. Key Senate Republicans as well urged Abraham and the BushWhite House to take a hands-off approach to the continuing crisis.

Judging from the comments expressed at yesterday’s Senateconfirmation hearing for Energy Secretary nominee Spencer Abraham,California isn’t likely to get much help from the Republicans inCongress for its ailing electricity market, but the Bush WhiteHouse could offer some hope.