REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS FOR

UNCLAS STATE 163714 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO ECON AND ESTOFF. FOR COPENHAGEN PLEASE PASS TO REO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENG KPAO SENV TRGY SUBJECT: REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS FOR WIREC SUPPORT ¶1. (U) This is an action cable, please see paragraph 3. 2.(SBU) SUMMARY: The USG will host the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) on March 4-6, 2008 at the Washington Convention Center. As the third global ministerial-level event on renewable energy, WIREC is expected to draw up to 2,000 senior level participants from around the world from national and subnational governments, the private sector and civil society. The robust participation of developing countries from all stakeholder groups will enhance the success of WIREC ¶2008. The Department is soliciting support from potential donor governments (i.e., Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) to provide support for both official delegations as well as key renewable energy experts. We estimate that approximately $5,500 will be needed to cover the travel and per diem costs for each developing country participant. To date, we understand that Germany will provide up to 100,000 Euros. Please note, for your information only, we anticipate needing to raise $1.5 million for developing country scholarships. The attached letters from UnderSecretary Dobriansky to Dutch Minister for Economic Affairs Maria van der Hoeven requests that the Government of the Netherlands consider providing funds for developing country participants to attend WIREC2008. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post is requested to deliver the following letter dated November 30 from UnderSecretary Dobriansky to Dutch Minister van der Hoeven. A hard copy of the letter has been delivered to the DCM at the Dutch embassy in Washington. ¶4. (U) BEGIN TEXT Dear Ms. van der Hoeven: The United States of America will host the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) on March 4-6, 2008, at the Washington Convention Center. We salute the Netherland,s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through an increased use of wind power generation, currently among the highest in the EU. 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. To help us ensure broad-based participation across all stakeholder groups, we are working with many organizations, including REN21, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, etc. WIREC 2008 will also feature a co-located trade show/business conference, separately managed by the American Council on Renewable Energy and other partnering organizations from U.S. and international renewable energy associations. The United States Government officially launched WIREC on October 2 in Washington, DC. The launch event drew over two hundred representatives from the private sector, civil society and foreign governments. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development Thomas Dorr and I provided opening remarks and representatives from the White House, the Departments of Energy and Commerce; the Environmental Protection Agency also participated. Please see www.wirec2008.gov for additional information. Robust participation of developing countries from government (federal and sub-national),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 renewable energy experts from developing countries. Based on our projections, we estimate that $5,500 will be needed to cover the travel and per diem costs for each developing country participant. I would be grateful for any assistance you can provide to help us achieve our participation goal. If you wish to provide support for developing country travel, you may provide funds to a special account established by the U.S. Energy Association (USEA) for this purpose. 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. If you would find it helpful, OES Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ambassador Reno Harnish would welcome the chance to discuss WIREC 2008 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, Paula Dobriansky UnderSecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs. End Text ¶6. No hard copy to follow. RICE