U.S. State Dept. to host 2008 Int'l Renewable Energy Conference

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced today (April 23, 2007) that the State Department will host the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) March 2008.

WIREC 2008 is the third global ministerial level event on renewable energy. It will be an important opportunity for world ministers to show their commitment to renewable energy. The ministers will discuss how renewable energy advances our shared goals for climate, sustainable development and energy security. The Secretary noted that, "Diversifying our energy supplies is a key foreign policy objective of this Administration," and that, "Renewable energy sources can go a long way toward breaking the 'addiction to oil' that President Bush cited in his 2006 State of the Union Address."

WIREC 2008 goals include: 
- Advancing energy security, climate change, air quality, and sustainable development goals, including agriculture and rural development; 
- Demonstrating global leadership in renewable energy research, policy development, technology innovation, commercialization and deployment; and
- Fostering industry and government collaboration to help solve global energy challenges.

The U.S. Department of State will host this event, assisted by other relevant Departments and agencies including; the: U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Interior, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The intergovernmental team welcomes the strong support of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) and looks forward to cooperating with REN-21 and other relevant stakeholders.

For more information about the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008, please contact William Armbruster at (202) 647-1247.

Here is the letter from The Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, to ACORE President Michael Eckhart:

THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHlNGTON
April 23, 2007

Dear Mr. Eckhart:

Access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy is a key foreign policy objective of this Administration. Renewable energy sources can go a long way toward breaking the "addiction to oil" that President Bush cited in his 2006 State of the Union Address.

The Department of State looks forward to hosting in March 2008 the ministerial-level Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008). WIREC 2008 is an important opportunity for government officials and other leaders to show their commitment to renewable energy and to discuss how renewable energy advances our shared goals for climate, sustainable development, and energy security.

The Department welcomes the strong support of the American Council on Renewable Energy in making this conference possible. The Administration remains committed to diversifying our nation's energy portfolio and recognizes the need to work in partnership with non-governmental leaders to harness the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of all stakeholders. Thank you for your important work on one of the significant global challenges of our time.

Sincerely,
Condoleezza Rice

Mr. Mike Eckhart, President;
American Council on Renewable Energy
1629 K Street NW, Suite 210,
Washington, D.C. 20006.

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