REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY FOR WIREC SUPPORT

UNCLAS STATE 165916 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS - PLEASE PASS TO ECON AND ESTOFF. FOR COPENHAGEN PLEASE PASS TO REO. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TRGY SOCIS KPAO ENG SUBJECT: REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY 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, Denmark, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 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 $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 letter from UnderSecretary Dobriansky to Norway's Mr. Haraldsen, Director General, Technology and Industry Department, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, requests the Government of Norway to consider providing funds for developing country participants to attend WIREC2008. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) ACTION: Post is requested to deliver the letter dated November 23, 2007 to Director General Haraldsen. Please note that the hard copy of the letter has been delivered to the DCM at their embassy in Washington. ¶4. BEGIN TEXT: Dear Mr. Haraldsen: 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 Norway's commitment to hydropower production and investment of several million dollars in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnerships with developing countries to provide solar power to poor areas. 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 SIPDIS 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. ¶5. No hard copy to follow. RICE