Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KINGSTON388
2009-05-18 20:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

JAMAICA: PUBLIC OUTREACH BY ENERGY SECURITY EXPERT

Tags:  ECON ENRG SENV EMIN ASEC KPAO SOCI ETRD TRSY OPIC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7298
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #0388 1382012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 182012Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7630
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 6014
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

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