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