Gore rips administration's energy policy and secrecy

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Al Gore the environmentalist came through loud and strong last night as the former vice president criticized current national leaders, charging that they created an energy policy in secret and promoted use of coal and oil rather than alternatives.

But first, a cleanshaven, relaxed Gore began his talk to a packed auditorium of more than 800 at Tennessee Technological University with crowd-pleasing one-liners and anecdotes.

Gore, who drew multiple standing ovations, dropped all levity when he spoke about the environment.

The global environmental crisis will be the ''principal challenge facing our civilization,'' he said in his talk as keynote speaker in the Stonecipher Symposium on the environment.