US and EU discuss cooperation in renewables

WASHINGTON, DC, US, June 29, 2005 (Refocus Weekly)

The United States and the European Union will work to advance all forms of renewable energy, according to two fact sheets issued by the White House after a summit with the continental government.

The U.S. and the EU “share a long tradition of working together to promote strong economic growth and improve energy security” which are pursued through the International Energy Agency, initiatives of the G8 and through the action plan adopted at the ‘Renewables 2004' conference in Germany. They will continue work to “advance all forms of renewable energy, and to promote the use of renewable and energy efficiency technology and policy measures, including promotion of energy conservation,” and will use their membership in the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership to place a “greater emphasis on cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities.”

“We recognize that one of the greatest needs for developing countries today is to provide the basic energy services necessary to lift their citizens out of poverty,” states the first document. “We believe that the advancement and deployment of technology can contribute to the solution of the problem.”

“By developing clean, efficient, affordable energy technologies for the longer term, while continuing to improve and deploy the current generation of lower-emission technologies, we can help all nations, including developing countries, meet the energy needs of their people and grow their economies,” it adds. “We will continue to address energy efficiency through effective policy measures and technology, and focus our efforts on achieving security of supply and helping the developing world to address energy challenges.”

To further these objectives, the U.S. and the EU Union will focus their activities in working with developing countries “to help them reduce poverty by promoting energy efficient policies and the use of renewable energy sources, as well as deploying advanced, efficient, affordable energy technologies to help meet their energy needs.” It also pledged co-operation in working together on carbon sequestration and existing nuclear generation and nuclear safety measures, as well as development of more efficient diesel vehicle technologies and the use of methane from coal mines, landfills and oil systems.

“The U.S. and the EU share common goals of promoting strong economic growth and improving energy security and the global environment,” it explains. “At this summit, we agreed on the importance of developing the clean and affordable energy technologies that will help developing nations meet their energy needs, grow their economies and improve their quality of life, while stemming deforestation and the production of greenhouse gases.”

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