REQUEST FOR WIREC FOLLOW-UP; MR. SMALL (ASSISTANT

UNCLAS STATE 154860

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
FOR ECON AND ESTOFF
FOR COPHENHAGEN PLEASE PASS TO REO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG KPAO SOCI TRGY CA
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR WIREC FOLLOW-UP; MR. SMALL (ASSISTANT
DEPUTY MINISTER, GLOBAL ISSUES)



1. THIS IS AN ACTION CABLE, PLEASE SEE PARA 3.


2. SUMMARY: On July 16, 2007, OES P/DAS Reno Harnish met
with Canada's Political Minister Kevin O,Shea and Energy
Counselor Paul Connors
to discuss the Washington International Renewable Energy
Conference (WIREC 2008).
As part of that discussion, Harnish highlighted the need for
strong developing country participation and requested
Canada's consideration of providing financial support
(REFTEL). This letter follows up on those conversations and
requests the Government of Canada's financial support for
developing country participants to attend WIREC 2008. END
SUMMARY.


3. ACTION: Post is requested to deliver the letter dated
November 5, 2007 to Mr. Small. (NB: The hard copy of the
letter has been delivered to the DCM at their embassy in
Washington)


4. BEGIN TEXT
Dear Mr. Small:

On October 16, I had the pleasure of meeting with
Political Minister Kevin O,Shea and Energy Counselor Paul
Connors to discuss the Washington International Renewable
Energy Conference (WIREC 2008),which will be held March 4-6,
2008 at the Washington Convention Center. I enjoyed meeting
them, and look forward to our continued interaction
concerning WIREC 2008.

As the third global ministerial-level event on renewable
energy, WIREC 2008 is expected to draw 2,000 senior level
participants from around the world, including leaders from
national and sub-national governments, the private sector,
and civil society. Based on discussions between the U.S.
Embassy in Ottawa and your government, I understand that
Canada's delegation may include representatives from your
Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
Natural Resources, Environment, Agriculture and Agri-Food, as
well as representatives from provincial and local governments
and civil society. Canada,s strong presence at WIREC is
very welcome. WIREC 2008 will also feature a co-located
trade show/business conference, separately managed by the
American Council on Renewable Energy and other U.S. and
international renewable energy organizations

Last month, the U.S. government hosted WIREC,s kick-off
event, which drew over two hundred representatives from the
private sector, civil society and foreign governments. Under
Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs

SIPDIS
Dobriansky and Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural
Development Tom Dorr provided opening remarks at the October
2nd event. Representatives from the White House, the
Departments of Energy and Commerce and the Environmental
Protection Agency also participated. Please see
www.wirec2008.gov for additional information.
Robust developing country participation by government
officials (federal and subnational),the private sector and
civil society will enhance the success of WIREC 2008. We
would like to provide financial support for both official
delegations as well as key developing country renewable
energy experts. We estimate that $5,500 will be needed to
cover the travel and per diem costs for each developing
country participant. During my meeting, Minister O,Shea
indicated the possibility of Canada providing funds to
support the attendance of developing country delegates. The
purpose of my letter is to formally follow up on that
discussion. I would be grateful for any assistance the
Government of Canada could provide to help us achieve our
goal. I have also sent similar requests to colleagues in the
EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

If you wish to provide support for developing country
travel, you may provide funds to a special account
established by the US Energy Association (USEA) for this
purpose. USEA, a non-governmental entity, has served a
similar coordinating role for previous Ministerial-level
conferences and is also serving as our contractor for other
aspects of WIREC 2008. USEA will coordinate with donor
governments to handle the necessary travel arrangements and
provide donor governments with an accounting for the
sponsored delegations. Ms. Marjorie Jean-Pierre, Deputy
Program Manager, is the USEA point of contact. She can be
reached by phone at 1-202-312-1230 or via e-mail at
mjean-pierre@usea.org.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding
this request, as I am eager to hear your suggestions and
recommendations. I would welcome the chance to discuss WIREC
2008 with you with you in greater detail either when you are
next in Washington or via a video or telephone conference
call. I would also appreciate your providing me with a
working contact in your ministry for my staff to discuss
WIREC,s progress in detail. Sincerely, Reno Harnish
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary." End text.


5. No hard copy to follow.
RICE