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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
Remarks by J. Brian Atwood
Congressional Reception, Energy Efficiency Forum
Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development
Mansfield Room, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.
June 8, 1999
Thank you, Jim. I will treasure this award as a symbol of the six years that I have been privileged to work with the U.S. Energy Association, and so many others who are here today, to promote the cause of increased worldwide energy efficiency.
Once again, I congratulate Johnson Controls and USEA for another forum that brings together industry leaders and policymakers from Congress and the executive branch to discuss the crucial issue of energy efficiency.
And it's an honor to be in the Mansfield Room, which summons memories of one of the wisest, most civil, and most beloved men who ever graced our capital city - and of course he still does.
When I joined USAID six years ago, energy efficiency often seemed a stepchild, as energy officials in the developing world focused on privatization and restructuring.
I don't think that's the case today.
We've been able to get energy efficiency high up on the agenda of the developing world. People understand much better today that the transformation to energy efficiency is essential to the economic and environmental future of the developing world - and to the developed world as well.
I'm proud of the leadership that President Clinton has shown in spreading this message. And of course I'm proud of his a billion-dollar program to help developing countries reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.
I'm proud, too, of the longtime role that Vice President Gore has played as a champion of sensible, effective environmental policies - and I predict that he will play an even greater leadership role in the years ahead.
Finally, I'm proud that we at USAID have led the U.S. government response to global climate change in developing countries. We have helped developing and transition countries adopt not only better technology, but also government and corporate policies that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Often, we've been able to match countries with energy and environmental needs with the American technology that can meet their needs - and that's good for everyone.
We at USAID believe that one of the surest ways to promote energy efficiency is through the fullest possible exchange of ideas and information.
That's why we're proud to have supported several peer exchange and training programs. One of the best of them is the USEA/USAID Energy Partnership program, which exchanges senior technical and managerial staff of U.S. utilities and regulatory agencies with their counterparts in developing and transition countries.
Thus far, under our agreement with USEA, we have supported more than fifty of these partnerships, and we believe the program has had a major impact, not only in improved operations efficiency, but in expanding markets for U.S. utilities and energy efficiency companies.
Let me report another example of how we are promoting the spread of information. As a result of a yearlong collaboration between USAID and USEA, we will soon be issuing a Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation Options for Developing Country Utilities and Regulatory Agencies.
That title is a mouthful, but it's an important document that will describe more than seventy "best practices" for generating, transmitting, distributing and consuming electricity. We believe the handbook will be extremely valuable to utility personnel and regulators in developing countries.
Now let me announce another important partnership. USEA, the International Utility Efficiency Partnerships, Inc., and USAID are joining together to form the International Climate Change Project Fund.
This new fund will provide support to U.S. investor-owned utilities, their subsidiaries, and other investor-owned energy companies that are seeking to assess and implement specific projects to avoid, reduce and mitigate GHG emissions. The focus will be on USAID-assisted countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The Fund will provide support of up to $100,000 for pre-investment project analysis. Typical projects will include energy efficiency actions; power generation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, and COČ emission offset activities.
If this turns out to be the last time I meet with you as USAID Administrator, I'm proud to make my exit on such a positive note. I've cherished our partnership, and deeply appreciated your friendship and support. The goal of a more energy efficient world is part of our shared vision of a better world, with better, safer, healthier lives for people everywhere, and I've been honored to work with you to achieve that most honorable of goals.
Thank you.
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
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Last Updated on: July 12, 2001 |
