REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY FOR WIREC SUPPORT

UNCLAS STATE 165916

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

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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