Interior Secretary Norton addresses gas crisis.(News)

WASHINGTON, DC -- Interior Secretary Gale Norton on July 22 highlighted Department of the Interior initiatives underway to tackle natural gas shortages, which are causing higher prices for American families, and touted studies on methane hydrates which could help in the long term need for expanded natural gas supplies.

Norton spoke with the Natural Gas Roundtable in Washington, a forum for industry leaders and government to discuss energy policy issues.

"We face a crisis because, as a nation, we have seen a sea-change in the use of clean-burning natural gas. Approximately 56 million homes are heated with natural gas today. Because of its air quality benefits, 90% of our new energy plants will be powered by natural gas." Norton said.

"Interior-managed lands and waters produce more than 30% of all domestic energy and 35% of all natural gas. At current consumption rates, the U.S. Geological Survey says there is a 50-year supply of technically recoverable undiscovered natural gas. More than half of this supply exists on lands and waters managed by the Interior Department.

"The Interior Department is implementing the President's National Energy Plan and Congressional directives," Norton said.

"We are implementing our new five-year offshore leasing program for 2002 to 2007. This is estimated to make enough natural gas available to heat and cool 56 million homes for a dozen years.

"To encourage ...