<html><div style='background-color:'><P>OSN:</P>
<P>It's good to see the industry organizatoin for oil and gas production in Oklahoma, Oklahoma Energy Resources Board supporting energy efficiency to the tune of $1million. This money will help folks with high energy costs.</P>
<P>Also, OERB announced earlier this year the awesome news of cleaning 6,000 abandoned oil well sites across the state helping make Oklahoma cleaner and greener!</P>
<P>OERB is charged with cleaning up abandoned oil well sites and promoting energy education. The agency is funded solely with voluntary contributions from Oklahoma's oil and gas producers.</P>
<P>Thanks,</P>
<P>Seneca Scott</P>
<P>3271 E. 2nd St.</P>
<P>Tulsa, OK 74104</P>
<P>OKC 405-474-0324</P>
<P>Tulsa 918-576-9111</P>
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<P>____________________________________________________________________________<BR><STRONG><FONT size=6><FONT color=#314857><SPAN class=twstorytextheadline>OERB funds weatherization </SPAN><BR></FONT></FONT></STRONG><FONT color=#314857><SPAN class=twstorysynop>By RUSSELL RAY World Staff Writer </SPAN><BR><SPAN class=twstorysynop>12/16/2005 </SPAN><BR><BR></FONT><A href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/TWPDFs/2005/Final/W_121605_E_1.PDF"><SPAN class=twstorysynop><FONT color=#314857>View in Print (PDF) Format</FONT></SPAN><FONT color=#444547> </FONT></A><BR><SPAN class=twstorytext><BR></P>
<P>The skyrocketing cost of energy has prompted the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board to donate $1 million -- funds collected from the revenue of oil and gas producers -- to a state program designed to keep low-income households warm in the winter and cool in the summer. </P>
<P>OERB, a state agency funded by a one-tenth of 1 percent "tax" on all oil and gas production in Oklahoma, donated the money to the Oklahoma Weatherization Program, a relatively unknown program that helps low-income families conserve energy by insulating the gaps around a home's doors, windows, walls and ceilings. </P>
<P>Home heating bills are estimated to rise as much as 35 percent this winter because of record high oil and natural gas prices, said OERB Executive Director Mike Terry. </P>
<P>"For the foreseeable future, it looks like energy is going to cost us all more," he said. "We need to change our mind-set about how we use it and be more resourceful." </P>
<P>The donation gives the program, which is administered by the Department of Commerce, $3.5 million. State officials expect to weatherize up to 1,300 homes with the money. </P>
<P>"The support OERB is providing will allow many more Oklahomans to have access to energy-efficient homes," said Vaughn Clark, director of community development for the Commerce Department. </P>
<P>The cost of weatherizing each home averages about $2,700, Terry said. Already, the program has about 800 homes on a waiting list. </P>
<P>Among other things, the program pays for the weatherstripping of doors, window replacement and proper insulation. </P>
<P>The improvements will lead to savings well beyond this winter, said Tulsa oilman Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., a member of the OERB board. </P>
<P>"It helps save energy expenses for the long term," he said. </P>
<P>Natural gas is used to heat the majority of U.S. households. </P>
<P>Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have reduced domestic gas production by 16 percent, which has contributed to today's historically high gas prices. </P>
<P>"It doesn't take a Ph.D. to understand that heating costs are going up this winter," said OERB Chairman Steve Agee. "We've been looking at this situation for several months." </P>
<P>OERB plans to launch an advertising campaign that will educate Oklahomans on conservation and provide information about the weatherization program. </P>
<P>"We thought we can help educate the public about conservation efforts and also provide assistance to low-income households," Agee said. </P>
<P>Oklahomans can sign up for the state program by contacting a local Community Action agency. A list of agencies is posted at the Department of Commerce web site, cf,fgc www.okcommerce.gov. cf,ceno </P>
<P>Terry said 100 percent of OERB's contribution will be spent on weatherizing homes. None of it will be used for administrative costs or overhead. </P>
<P>OERB is charged with cleaning up abandoned oil well sites and promoting energy education. The agency is funded solely with voluntary contributions from Oklahoma's oil and gas producers. </P>
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<P><B>Russell Ray 581-8380 </B><BR><A href="mailto:russell.ray@tulsaworld.com"><FONT color=#444547>russell.ray@tulsaworld.com</FONT></A> </P>
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<P><SPAN class=twtopstory><STRONG><FONT color=#444547 size=2>Related Photos & Graphics</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P><STRONG><FONT color=#444547 size=2><IMG onerror="this.src='http://www.tulsaworld.com/images/Photonotavail.gif';" src="http://www.tulsaworld.com/images/2005/051216_E1_OERBf34277_e1terry6.jpg"></FONT></STRONG> </P>
<P><SPAN class=twnav-bold><FONT color=#444547 size='"+1"'><STRONG>Mike Terry </STRONG></FONT></P><STRONG><FONT color=#444547>
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<P></FONT></STRONG>The OERB executive director said 100 percent of the agency's $1 million contribution will be spent on weatherizing homes.</SPAN><BR><SPAN class=twphotocaption></SPAN></P>
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<P><BR><A href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/TWPDFs/2005/Final/W_121605_E_1.PDF"><SPAN class=twstorysynop><FONT color=#314857>View in Print (PDF) Format</FONT></SPAN><FONT color=#444547> </FONT></A></P>
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