24-03-06
To improve the environment at local and global levels, the United States and
Mexican governments have committed to developing clean energy projects in Mexico
that will lead to economic benefits and enhance energy security and public
health.
US EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock and US Agency International
Development Acting Administrator Frederick Schieck joined Mexico's
Undersecretary of Environment José Ramon Ardavin in signing a letter of
cooperation to advance the capture and beneficial use of methane, a greenhouse
gas.
"EPA is looking forward to working closely with our colleagues in Mexico and
USAID to reduce methane emissions and bring clean energy to markets," said US
EPA Deputy Administrator Peacock.
"This work will help us realize our joint commitments under Methane to Markets
and meet our shared goals of reducing global methane emissions while enhancing
economic growth, promoting energy security, and improving the environment."
USAID Acting Administrator Schieck announced that the agency will be
providing more than $ 800,000 for initiative programs in Mexico.
"USAID is committed to working with EPA and the Government of Mexico to promote
and find productive uses for renewable energy." He continued, "USAID is
providing this aid in continued support for environmental protection and
economic growth in Mexico to assure Methane to Markets Partnership success."
The letter of cooperation represents a concrete step toward developing
methane reuse projects in Mexico. Under the terms of this agreement, EPA, USAID,
and the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources will work with
local governments and the private sector to share and expand the use of
technologies to recover and use methane gas that is currently released from
natural gas and oil systems, landfills, underground coal mines, and agricultural
operations.
The projects will be developed under EPA's Methane to Markets Partnership, a US
led Presidential initiative.
The United States and Mexico are 2 of the 17 countries currently
participating in the partnership, an international initiative launched in
November 2004 to advance cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a
source of clean energy.
Methane is a clean-burning fuel that is the main component of natural gas. The
US Government is committing up to $ 53 mm over the next five years to support
the Methane to Markets Partnership.
For more information, visit: http://www.methanetomarkets.org or http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets or http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_partnerships/gda/methanetomarkets.htm
Source: US Environmental Protection Agency