Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 9, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke orders energy cuts in state buildings and applauds Western governors' conservation campaign

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today praised fellow Western governors for joining him in promoting energy conservation to control electricity prices and avert shortages in the Western states.

He also directed a 10 percent cut in energy consumption in Washington state buildings, following his call last week to all citizens to save energy.

"Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and I have been urging residents in Washington and Oregon to conserve power and reduce their electrical consumption for the foreseeable weeks to come," Locke said. "Voluntary conservation from everyone across the West will help us immeasurably as we work our way through this serious energy problem."

Locke today joined other chief executives in the Western Governors' Association in their decision to work together on emergency, short-term energy conservation measures.

Their goal also is to develop long-term strategies that would increase investment in new energy supplies and efficiencies as well as electrical lines and other parts of the power infrastructure.

Locke said he will participate in a WGA Energy Policy Roundtable convening in Portland Feb. 2 to review how states are implementing conservation strategies and developing long-term energy solutions.

In other developments, Locke signed a directive requiring buildings and offices owned or leased by the state to reduce electrical and natural gas use by 10 percent. The directive also requires the agencies to reduce power usage during the peak hours of 8 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.

"I have called upon the people and businesses of the state of Washington to conserve energy. Only through conservation can we ensure that we will have adequate power supplies at affordable rates," Locke said.

He added, "It is incumbent on us, as public officials, to do our part to conserve energy and set an example for others to follow."

The directive requires agencies to assign conservation responsibilities to a management team member.

Conservation measures in state buildings include:

Turning off lights when not in use. Turning off decorative lighting and removing extra bulbs from overlit areas

Turning down thermostats and limiting the use of portable space heaters to evening or weekend hours when central heating systems are off

Turning down water heaters

Shifting laundry operations to non-peak hours in prisons, hospitals and other state institutions

Turning off personal coffee makers and reducing the energy consumption of other appliances.

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