Davis Launches Conservation Campaign

Gov. Gray Davis’ visit to Estella Burnett’s Venice home Saturday had nothing to do with her steps at conserving energy. She was already doing her part.

But Davis asked her to do more.

The governor stopped at one other home in Burnett’s neighborhood to help distribute compact fluorescent lightbulbs as part of the kickoff of “PowerWalk,” a program designed to encourage California residents to conserve electricity during the state’s energy-strapped summer.

Members of the California Conservation Corps began distributing the energy efficient bulbs across the state Saturday. The plan is to deliver 1.5 million of them door-to-door in the next 17 weeks.

The effort was welcomed at homes in Venice but residents, including Burnett, said more needs to be done.

“I think the lightbulbs might help, but it’s up to us to conserve,” Burnett said after Davis left her home, adding that the Legislature can also do more. “They can build more power plants so we don’t have to take up their slack.”

Conservation Corps members also visited the home of Owen Thomas, 25.

The idea of handing out the bulbs struck Thomas as a novel, proactive way to spread the message of energy conservation, he said.

To maximize his energy conservation efforts, Thomas limits his use of lights, he said. But he said still more needs to be done.

“I doubt that’s how people use [the bulk of] their energy,” Thomas said.

He said he cuts back on use of lights and his computer and doesn’t use his air conditioners.

Davis also paid a visit to the home of John Ghanie, 58, who lives across the street from Burnett.

Ghanie said Davis’ PowerWalk campaign is a good idea but he, too, believes other steps must be taken.

“I think he is trying to do something,” Ghanie said. “It should have been done years ago. The lightbulbs are good, but we need [power] plants. This is like a Band-Aid. We need a cure.”

Davis said he is committed to providing more energy to the state by authorizing construction of 15 plants, 10 of which are being built.

He said California legislators are doing all they can to fight the energy battle.

President Bush needs to step in and help California deal with the crisis, Davis said.

Burnett, 66, said she is happy to help in attempts at conservation. “I wash clothes at night,” she said. “We very seldom turn on the television; only to turn on the news. I use the dishwasher maybe once every other week.”