14-03-03 US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham promoted the use of alternative energy sources when his department backed a project to research wind power in Hungary. Abraham handed a check for $ 138,000 from the US Trade and Development Agency to a Hungarian company to complete a feasibility study into the larger use of wind farms in the country.
“Our countries are different in size, but the challenges facing them are similar,” Abraham said, referring to Hungary's population of around 10 mm.

He listed renewable energy research, nuclear waste disposal, energy market liberalization, and safe new energy technologies -- especially wind power -- as areas where the two countries could cooperate.
Abraham signed an agreement with Economics Minister Istvan Csillag on setting up a working group to explore cooperation on renewable energy research between the two countries.

Addressing possible shortfalls in oil supplies due to a possible conflict with Iraq, Abraham told that the United States would use its strategic oil reserves if the market was unable to meet demand. “Through the IEA (International Energy Agency)... we stand ready to use the reserves we have if a severe supply disruption occurred that isn't capable of being addressed by an increase in production,” Abraham said.
“We are prepared to act quickly if called upon.”
However, Abraham added that he was confident in OPEC's pledge to increase production to meet any fall in supplies. He said the United States would consult internationally before taking any decision to use reserves.

Abraham visited Budapest on the last day of a nine-day European tour. He also visited Brussels, London, Vienna and Moscow.