JAMAICA: PUBLIC OUTREACH BY ENERGY SECURITY EXPERT

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000388 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/CAR (ACADIEUX) (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) WHA/EPSC (MROONEY)(FCORNEILLE) EEB/ESC/IEC/EPC (MMcMANUS) INR/RES (RWARNER) SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW USTDA FOR NATHAN YOUNG AND PATRICIA ARRIAGADA OPIC FOR ALISON GERMAK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ENRG SENV EMIN ASEC KPAO SOCI ETRD TRSY OPIC OAS, IBRD, XL, JM SUBJECT: JAMAICA: PUBLIC OUTREACH BY ENERGY SECURITY EXPERT REF: A) KINGSTON 97 B) KINGSTON 755 C) 08 KINGSTON 286 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Jerome Ringo, research scholar at Yale University and president of the Apollo Alliance, a broad coalition of major U.S. environmental organizations, visited Jamaica from May 13 to 15. The visit was organized by the U.S. Mission and included several speaking engagements, radio interviews, and meetings with GOJ officials. Ringo's visit focused on highlighting the importance of energy security and environmental issues. END SUMMARY. Energy Security and Private Sector -------------- ¶2. (U) On May 13 the Embassy hosted a session for nearly 50 participants entitled "Raising Awareness on Renewable Energy: A Path to Energy Security." Ringo discussed the importance that energy diversification can have on "green job" creation, citing new demand for those with the skills to work on wind, solar, or biofuels projects. The session also include presentations from Steven Bruce-Miller, President of Dewdrop Homes Jamaica, who discussed opportunities in energy management for businesses; and Hopeton Heron, Senior Research Assistant/Renewable Energy from the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, who talked about opportunities for energy diversification on the island. (Note: Post has been coordinating closely with Heron for the past year on a proposed waste-to-energy project. End Note). Meeting with Energy Minister -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Ringo and Emboffs met with the recently appointed Minister of Energy James Robertson on May 13. Robertson said he was given a mandate by Prime Minister Bruce Golding to prepare a green paper on energy policy, with a focus on energy diversification. He added that his Ministry was looking into initiating a major liquid natural gas (LNG) project in the future. He said coal power generation was also being considered, but LNG was the priority. (Note: It is widely viewed that Robertson replaced Clive Mullings as Minister of Energy because he is seen as a person who will act quickly to implement change. Mullings was criticized publically for not acting fast enough to address concerns in the sector, although he is credited with the successful roll out of E-10 (a 10 percent ethanol fuel blend) which is now widely available, Roberson said he will continue progress in biofuels and hopes to expand into a program for B5 (5 percent biodiesel and diesel blend). Public Outreach -------------- ¶4. (U) Ringo also served as the keynote speaker at a public forum on renewable energy at the Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville on May 14, met with members of the Jamaica Society of Energy Engineers at the University of Technology, and visited the Wigton Wind Farm (20 megawatts). MOSS