Official Defends Energy Policy Deputy Secretary Promotes Tips during Argonne Visit

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Byline: Marni Pyke Daily Herald Staff Writer

President Bush wants you to weather-strip your home.

It's just one of a package of conservation tips being offered by top brass in the U.S. Department of Energy who have launched a publicity blitz in the wake of skyrocketing fuel costs facing the nation this winter.

The "Easy Ways to Save Energy" campaign touched down Thursday at Argonne National Laboratory near Darien with an appearance by Deputy Secretary Clay Sell.

Sell talked about the effort to get people to cut back during the energy crunch emerging as a result of damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita and volatile oil and gas markets.

He also addressed criticisms about the administration's energy policies. Here is an edited transcript:

Q. What can the administration do for people who will have a rough time paying fuel bills this winter?

Al: We're using every resource available to the federal government to do everything possible to …