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EPA Administrator Whitman Tours Arizona Facilities, Touts Energy Policy

Release Date: 5/30/2001
Contact Information: Lisa Fasano, Press Office, 415/744-1587, Leo Kay, Press Office, 415/744-2201

     SAN FRANCISCO   U.S. EPA Administrator Christie Whitman joined Arizona Governor Jane Hull today, visiting two facilities in Phoenix and Tempe that exemplify the Bush Administration's energy policy.

     During the first stopover, Whitman and Hull visited the Solar Test and Research, or "STAR,"  Center in Tempe, Arizona, where APS tests photovoltaic technologies in an effort to help bring solar power to more business and industry.  The two then toured Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, which was built in 1996 incorporating numerous energy efficiency techniques.

     "Today's tours showed that through partnerships and technology, Arizonans are leading the charge in energy efficiency and renewable resources," Whitman said.  "With programs like the STAR Center and Desert Vista High School, America=s energy future will be secure and, more important, we will leave our environment cleaner than we found."

     As part of the Bush Administration's Energy Policy   nearly half of which is devoted to conservation and protection the EPA will work on the following projects:

      Renewable Energy Partnership Program   The EPA will develop a new renewable energy partnership program to help companies and consumers more easily buy renewable energy.  Companies will receive recognition for their contributions to the environment.

Energy Efficiency- The EPA will develop and implement a strategy to increase public awareness of the sizable savings that energy efficiency offers to homeowners.

Energy Star - The Energy Star program will be expanded to include schools, retail buildings, health care facilities and homes.

Multi-pollutant legislation - The EPA will propose legislation and work with Congress to establish mandatory reduction targets for sulfur, nitrogen oxide and mercury.

     With other state and federal agencies, the EPA will also: work with the trucking industry to reduce emissions and fuel consumption from long-haul trucks by implementing alternatives to idling; look for opportunities to maintain or improve the environmental benefits of state and local Aboutique@ fuels; and study the impact of NSR regulations on investment in new utility and refinery generation capacity, energy efficiency, and environmental protection.

     "I am excited about the role the EPA will play in promoting energy efficiency and conservation as well as safeguarding our environment by pursuing alternative sources to assure America=s energy security," Whitman said.