Advocates for wind power and other renewable energy sources bickered with supporters of President Bush's aggressive plans for more power plants and offshore drilling at a town hall meeting Monday night in the nation's energy capital. "The Bush plan is just a scam," protesters against the plan shouted as they marched in a circle in front of a 20-foot-tall inflatable White House replica with four smoke stacks emerging from its roof. They said renewable energy, such as wind power, should be considered before reverting to old methods, such as coal burning.

The political duel between California and Washington continued Tuesday as the Republican whip in the House scolded the state on how to solve the electricity crunch, and the state attorney general joined in a lawsuit over energy efficiency standards for appliances that were issued during the final days of the Clinton administration.

News Advisory: Gov. Gray Davis (D-Calif.) is scheduled to testify before the Senate Government Affairs Committee regarding the ongoing energy crisis in California. Gov. Davis, following the advice of two former campaign advisers to Al Gore, has spent the last few months blaming President Bush for the heightening energy crisis in California. Experts from Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), in an effort to counter the misinformation, will be available outside of room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to comment on the energy crisis in California during Davis' appearance before the committee. "We must remember this energy crisis in California falls squarely on the shoulders of the state's chief executive officer. It's Gray Davis' fault," said Chad Cowan, director of communications for CSE. "It's unfortunate that Gov. Davis has chosen to come to Washington to continue the political blame game. He should be back in California, tending to the energy problems that plague California's families, problems he helped create." WHAT: The Price Cap Truth Squad Responds to Gov. Gray Davis WHO: The Price Cap Truth Squad (Patrick Burns, director of energy policy at CSE; Glenn Spencer, CSE energy policy analyst; Chad Cowan, CSE director of communications; and Stephen Flaherty, CSE director of campaign operations) WHEN: June 20, 9 a.m. WHERE: Room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building For more information about CSE's positions on energy visit www.cse.org/informed/energy.html.

Gasoline prices may have dropped, but that doesn't mean the energy crisis is over - nor that we should abandon efforts to make the United States less dependent on outside sources of oil, a Bush Cabinet member told an audience Monday in DuPage County. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, during a question-and-answer session with 200 suburban residents at Argonne National Laboratory near Darien, acknowledged this spring's energy problems had somewhat subsided.

WASHINGTON -- The 40-foot segments of a planned natural gas pipeline that recently began arriving at Port Manatee are a promising sign for Florida's electric power plants. The question is how full or empty those promises may be. The state's gas needs are expected to almost triple by 2020, but the new pipeline from Mobile, Ala., will cross Gulf of Mexico waters that the state of Florida is fighting to keep free of oil and gas platforms.

The 40-foot segments of a planned natural gas pipeline that recently began arriving at Port Manatee are a promising sign for Florida's electric power plants. The question is how full or empty those promises may be. The state's gas needs are expected to almost triple by 2020, but the new pipeline from Mobile, Ala., will cross Gulf of Mexico waters that the state of Florida is fighting to keep free of oil and gas platforms.

Last month, President Bush released his long-awaited energy strategy. Without even waiting for its publication, environmental special interests went on the attack, skewering the plan for allegedly emphasizing new production of reliable energy over the use of renewables, conservation, and efficiency. These attacks have taken effect, as Mr. Bush's poll numbers on energy issues have dropped considerably. A large majority of Americans tell pollsters they disapprove of Mr. Bush's handling of energy issues and would prefer to see congressional Democrats lead the way.

Several conservative groups launched the "21st Century Energy Project" Wednesday with aims to run ads to attack liberal criticisms of the Bush administration's proposed national energy policy. The group released a print and radio ad at a press conference to "counter balance the scathing, misleading assault" on the Bush plan from environmental organizations.