This is in response to Marion Oman’s letter in the March 15 Observer.

Here are a few facts about Al Gore and his energy consumption. Al Gore’s mansion in Belle Meade, Tenn., an area near Nashville, consumes more electricity in one month than the average American household uses in one year (this is according to the Nashville Electric Service-NES).

In the “documentry” “An Incovenient Truth,” Mr. Gore calls on Americans to conserve energy by “reducing electricity consumption at home.” The average American household consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kwh)per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Mr. Gore’s household alone devoured nearly 221,000 kwh. That is 20 times the national average! Last August alone Mr. Gore’s mansion burned through 22,619 kwh, guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than the average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s “average” monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of the documentry Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kwh per month in 2005 to 18,400 kwh per month in 2006.

Mr. Gore’s extravagent energy use does not stop at his electric bill. The natural gas bill for Mr. Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year. Drew Johnson, president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research said, “As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it come to home energy use.”

In total Mr. Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006. It sounds like Mr. Gore feels that the “average” people should make the sacrifices but that he it does not apply to him.

Darlene Weir

Ocean Park