Assistant Secretary in Brussels to lead US delegation to further and strengthen transatlantic relations on biofuels, alternative energy, and climate change.
April 25, 2006
While in Brussels, capital of the European Union, Andy Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy highlighted the work of the Presidents Advanced Energy Initiative and how the United States and Europe can work together to promote new technology, alternative energy and biofuels.
The Advanced Energy Initiative significantly increases our investment in clean energy technologies at home. President Bush has asked Congress for a funding increase at DOE for clean energy research, including the Solar America Initiative, clean coal research, wind energy, battery technology for hybrid vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell research and exciting research in producing ethanol from a variety of feedstocks.
Remarks from Mr. Karsner April 24, 2006:
"The Advanced Energy Initiative is about unity, security, liberty, and the better world our children are due. And to make the AEI a success, and fulfill the promise to future generations, we need to work and continue the conversation with our international partners
I think this is an important dialogue on the convergence of policies to encourage less petroleum dependency and greater use of renewable fuels and clean energy technology amongst the Western alliance of democratic nations.
Both the United States and Europe remain bonded through a love of freedom and the practical need to steer our destiny toward a better, cleaner, healthier, freer, and more sustainable world.
Because these are global problems that require all peoples to engage in dialogue with mutual respect, I am pleased to spend Earth Day weekend dealing with global perspectives and advancing American ideas towards enhancing the environment with pragmatic measures to transform the energy economy.
These efforts are part of the sustained follow-up to the 2005 G-8 Summit at Gleneagles, Scotland. The G-8 leaders of the world"s industrialized nations agreed with President Bush on a far-reaching Plan of Action - on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development.
We are moving decisively, early and often, to affirm, fulfill, and extend President Bush"s commitment to speed the development and deployment of clean energy technologies so that we may achieve the combined goals of strengthening energy and economic security through environmentally friendly means - in the United States and globally."
The next round of this growing and important transatlantic conversation will be hosted in Washington, DC and will continue to expand the consensus and convergence on policies promoting economic integration of renewable energy and biofuels.
