After weeks of a “war of wills” among the White House, Congress, and private interests seeking information on the formulation of the Bush Administration’s national energy strategy, the Department of Energy (DOE) on March 25 finally released over 11,000 pages of information related to the National Energy Policy Development Group’s (NEPDG) work. According to a DOE press release, the information consists of much “more than the approximately 7,584 pages estimated by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and instead comprises some 11,000 pages requested by NRDC and 16 other groups and media organizations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).”
According to DOE, the information includes all documents received from more than 100 outside groups, including energy industry executives, trade associations, and lobbyists. Among the documents released were the schedules for Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and other senior DOE staff who did work on the National Energy Plan from January through September 30, 2001, when the task force was dissolved.
Although the DOE maintains that Secretary Abraham met with only 36 energy industry representatives on task force matters, the New York Times reports that he met with 109 energy industry companies and trade associations from January through May 2001, many of who were financial supporters of President Bush. The Times reports that the Secretary did not meet with any environmental and consumer groups during this same period, which has fueled allegations that the work of the energy task force was pre-ordained to favor the energy industry.
The White House maintains that its deliberations on the national energy strategy were completely above-board. When asked to comment on the DOE release, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer responded, “News flash – no surprise to anybody, the Secretary of Energy meets with energy-related groups.”
