WASHINGTON -- Gov. Ed Rendell, who has solar panels on the governor's residence, made a pitch for more alternative fuels yesterday in a speech at the National Press Club here and in a letter to President Bush.

		Call can give winter heating advice HARRISBURG -- State officials have set up a toll-free telephone number that Pennsylvanians can use to get help and information about winter heating bills. Gov. Ed Rendell said yesterday that by calling 866-550-4355, residents can get information about paying their heating bills, fixing residential heating systems, restoring utility services and finding shelters in their area. Mr. Rendell said the toll-free number is part of his "Stay Warm PA'' initiative, which is meant to "help people survive this winter,'' when heating costs are due to rise sharply. "With cold weather upon us,'' the governor said, "we need to remember the families who may not be as fortunate as our own and we must do what we can to help them avoid having to choose between food or fuel."

In his letter to Mr. Bush, the governor compared his call for the nation to adopt Pennsylvania's "American Energy Harvest" program to promote new energy sources and lessen dependence on foreign oil to Franklin D. Roosevelt's Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bomb and John F. Kennedy's challenge to put a man on the moon.

In remarks at the press club which he read verbatim to avoid, he explained, making mistakes, Mr. Rendell said the federal government should use regulatory and legislative power to require utilities to use alternative fuels.

He said the government should use its purchasing power to promote private investment in new energy technology and suggested it buy hybrid cars, which don't run on gasoline alone. He said subsidies to oil companies now making large profits should be transferred to alternative fuel production, which, he promised, would mean the program would need no new federal money and would not add to the nation's deficit.

Alternative energy is no longer "a fringe idea," he said.

He noted that China is building synthetic fuel plants from coal waste and the European Union is already 5 percent dependent on biofuels for cars and expects one out of five cars will be powered that way in 15 years. Ireland's economic growth "has literally been fueled by wind power," he said. And he praised Brazil, which says it will no longer import any oil by the end of next year.

"In 1859, the first successful oil [company] started pumping black gold in Titusville, Pa., and a short time later Andrew Carnegie staked his claim in coal and used it to build the American steel industry. Today, Pennsylvania companies are sending $30 billion a year outside our state -- and in most cases, outside our nation -- to buy energy. Think of the impact if we could keep that $30 billion in Pennsylvania, if we brought homegrown energy," he said.

What the plan needs most, he wrote the president, is "strong leadership ... If you provide this type of leadership, I believe you will find truly bipartisan support ready and willing to work with you. With that support we can make such substantial progress that this effort can become a significant part of your legacy as president."

But after his speech Mr. Rendell said, "You know, I don't expect to get a call from the president tomorrow saying, 'Ed, this is a great idea; can you get down to Washington this afternoon?' I'll be ready, but I don't expect to get it."