ENERGY AND CLIMATE MINISTERIAL OF THE AMERICAS
Washington, D.C.
April 15-16, 2010

On behalf of the U.S. government, I am delighted to offer thanks to the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Development Bank, Ministers and delegations from 32 nations and more than 450 members of civil society and the private sector who participated in the Energy & Climate Ministerial of the Americas in Washington, D.C. April 15-16, 2010. This statement provides a brief summary of the major topics and themes discussed.

Participants discussed the progress the region has made since the Energy and Climate Partnership (ECPA) of the Americas was announced at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009. Ministers noted the importance of building upon these existing efforts and developing additional pragmatic concrete collaborative activities. Such activities could include sharing best practices, policy actions, and regulatory frameworks, and cooperating on technology research, development and deployment.

Renewable Energy
Participants stated that enabling the accelerated development and deployment of renewable energy technologies, both at scale and for distributed generation, throughout the Western Hemisphere is a critical goal of the Partnership. Participants highlighted governmental policies and private sector actions that could encourage growth in the renewable energy sector, building upon current, and developing new, activities that create avenues to meet the challenges of energy security and climate change, and to promote low carbon economic growth. Participants discussed the cost of renewable energy technologies and importance of cost reductions in the years ahead.

Cleaner and More Efficient Use of Fossil Fuels
Participants observed that, despite expected growth in alternative energy sources, fossil fuels will remain a critical part of the energy mix in the Americas for the foreseeable future. With the knowledge that regional oil production continues to shift towards heavier sources, participants underscored the need for lower-carbon extraction technologies, improvements in energy efficiency and greater use of natural gas as being of critical importance for both energy and climate security.

Energy Poverty
Participants underscored the importance of energy development and access. They declared that fighting energy poverty is a key focus of the ECPA, one whose priority was underscored by the recent natural disaster in Haiti. Even before that disaster, they made note that some 50-65 million people in Latin America had no access to energy services, and even more of the hemisphere’s citizens lack access to energy services sturdy enough to survive such disasters largely intact.

Energy Efficiency
Participants observed that energy efficiency is a cornerstone of the ECPA, with the knowledge that the cleanest energy is that which nations never use.
Participants stated strong interest in exploring how best to utilize appliance standards, building standards, industrial efficiency, and the implementation of the many energy efficiency technologies to save electric energy, conserve natural resources, and reduce carbon emissions. They noted that public awareness and outreach also are essential. Electric Power and Gas Infrastructure Participants cited infrastructure related to electric power and natural gas as a critical issue within the hemisphere, particularly as countries integrate energy systems across national borders to share resources and take advantage of economies of scale in power generation and consumption. Participants focused on the need to work together in regional efforts to build, upgrade and accelerate integration of physical infrastructure; to build markets that allow for energy trade; and to look for ways to better provide power to currently underserved segments of the region’s population by sharing best practices in developing market frameworks and investment incentives.

Financing
Participants noted the importance of financing to energy development in the hemisphere. They discussed alternative financing tools and highlighted the importance of adequate financing to promoting clean energy, enhancing energy security and fighting energy poverty.