REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK FOR WIREC

UNCLAS STATE 166241

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
FOR ECON AND REO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TRGY SOCIS KPAO ENG NB
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK FOR WIREC
SUPPORT; MR. PER STIG MOLLER (MINISTER, MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS)



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


2. 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 WIREC2008. 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 was personally
delivered to Denmark,s MFA Stig Moller while he was in
Washington, and requests the Government of Denmark to
consider providing funds for developing country participants
to attend WIREC2008. END SUMMARY.


3. On November 23, 2007, a hard copy of the following letter
was hand delivered to Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Stig Moller while he was visiting the United States.
OES/PDAS Reno Harnish will be calling the Minister in the
near future to follow-up on the possibility of Denmark's
providing financial support for WIREC2008.


4. BEGIN TEXT

Dear Mr. Minister:

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 Denmark,s commitment and leadership in wind energy
development and commend your ability to provide for more than
20% of the nation,s electricity needs from this source. As
the third global ministerial-level event on renewable energy,
WIREC2008 is expected to draw 2,000 senior level participants
from around the world, including leaders from national and
subnational 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. WIREC2008 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 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 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.
RICE