12.13.2005 ET

(CSRwire) Washington, DC - Committed to being part of the solution to America's energy challenges, The Dow Chemical Company today announced a major corporate sponsorship of The Alliance to Save Energy's The Power is in Your Hands energy efficiency campaign. With U.S. natural gas prices now the highest in the world - and as American households face heating bills averaging 25 percent higher than last year's - The Power is in Your Hands is designed to empower U.S. energy consumers to save money and energy this winter.

Led by the Alliance to Save Energy and the American Gas Association, The Power is in Your Hands campaign brings together business, industry, utilities, trade associations, federal agencies, and community groups whose common goal is reducing energy use to lower prices in the long run. The coalition's 20-plus members include The Dow Chemical Company, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Chemistry Council, the Business Roundtable, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, and the Edison Electric Institute, among others.

"For nearly a century, Dow has been an industry leader in energy efficiency, and now we are pleased to team up with the Alliance to Save Energy, supporting efforts to reduce demand for U.S. natural gas and promote sustainable energy solutions," said Andrew Liveris, president and CEO, The Dow Chemical Company "There is a natural gas crisis in this country, and resolving it will require a balanced and comprehensive solution to both reduce energy demand and increase the supply of American energy. Focusing on energy efficiency is the best near-term action that all consumers can take to help address the skyrocketing cost of natural gas."

The Power is in Your Hands campaign was officially launched at a press event hosted by the Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, DC earlier today. During the press conference, major sponsors of the campaign, including Dow, voiced their support for this Alliance to Save Energy initiative - and also described how their organizations support energy efficiency. Peter Molinaro, vice president of federal and state government affairs, spoke on Dow's behalf at this event.

"Energy efficiency feels good and saves money, and with high energy and heating prices increasingly affecting all sectors of society, focusing on efficiency has become an imperative for all energy consumers," Molinaro said. "Since 1995, Dow has saved more than $3 billion through energy efficiency improvements. If every homeowner could save $300 - or even $30 - what a contribution we could collectively make to America's energy independence."

In addition to providing financial support for The Power is in Your Hands campaign, during the winter months Dow will make energy savings tips and campaign materials available to its employees and retirees throughout the U.S. The company will also encourage its industry partners to do the same.

"Dow uses natural gas as both an energy source and a critical raw material to make thousands of products that are essential to our daily lives, from life-saving medicines and home insulation to plastics that make cars and appliances more energy efficient," Molinaro said. "High natural gas prices are a critical issue for America's manufacturers and increasingly for all energy consumers, and this campaign presents an excellent opportunity for all of us to come together to be part of the solution."

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security. The Power is in Your Hands campaign is designed to arm consumers with information and tools to manage their home energy bills; inform them about the connection between household energy use and energy prices; and inspire them to use energy efficiency to reduce their energy and thereby enhance the nation's energy security. For more information about the campaign, visit www.powerisinyourhands.com.

Dow is a leader in science and technology, providing innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $40 billion, Dow serves customers in 175 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress: food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its 43,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

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