[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1526 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1526

   Expressing support for the Energy and Climate Partnership of the 
Americas and its goal to encourage collaboration and cooperation among 
 countries to address the energy and climate change challenges facing 
                        the Western Hemisphere.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 15, 2010

Mr. Engel submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing support for the Energy and Climate Partnership of the 
Americas and its goal to encourage collaboration and cooperation among 
 countries to address the energy and climate change challenges facing 
                        the Western Hemisphere.

Whereas President Obama invited Western Hemisphere countries to join in an 
        Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) during the Fifth 
        Summit of the Americas held on April 2009 in Trinidad and Tobago;
Whereas the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas is voluntary, 
        allowing governments, Inter-American organizations, private industry, 
        and civil society to lead or participate in initiatives that reflect 
        their priorities;
Whereas more than 30 energy ministers and delegations from across the Western 
        Hemisphere met on April 15, 2010, through April 16, 2010, in Washington, 
        DC, to deepen cooperation on energy security and on alternative energy 
        resources;
Whereas ECPA initiatives focus on areas of cooperation such as renewable energy, 
        energy efficiency, energy poverty, infrastructure, cleaner fossil fuels, 
        as well as sustainable landscapes and adaptation;
Whereas the Western Hemisphere supplies one-fourth of the world's crude oil, 
        one-third of the world's natural gas, nearly one-fourth of its coal, 
        over a third of global electricity, and almost three-quarters of 
        worldwide bio-fuel production;
Whereas ECPA is a partnership of Western Hemisphere nations focused on creating 
        energy independence and promoting sustainable, clean energy practices 
        and technologies, and not a fossil fuel subsidy program to increase 
        energy dependency;
Whereas Chile, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, El Salvador, and Trinidad and 
        Tobago will create Clean Energy Technology Centers to serve as 
        clearinghouses of information and as sources of expertise on various 
        renewable energy technologies and practices;
Whereas Brazil will lead an initiative to promote sustainable urban development 
        and energy efficiency among low-income residents;
Whereas Colombia will lead an initiative to strengthen electrical 
        interconnections in the Andean Region, Chile, and Panama;
Whereas Canada will lead a working group to discuss methods to reduce the carbon 
        and environmental footprint of heavy oil;
Whereas Mexico will lead an initiative to promote and increase energy 
        efficiency;
Whereas the United States Department of Energy will assist governments in Costa 
        Rica, Dominica, Peru, Colombia, and the Caribbean in developing 
        transformative energy programs through the Low Carbon Communities of the 
        Americas Program;
Whereas the United States Department of State will also support Central American 
        countries in their effort to integrate the regional power market as well 
        as activities that promote greater efficiency and the region's clean 
        energy development; and
Whereas the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States 
        Department of State will work with interested countries to collaborate 
        on scientific exchanges to advance renewable and sustainable biomass 
        energy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly supports the goals of the Energy and Climate 
        Partnership of the Americas;
            (2) encourages the efforts of the United States Government 
        to expand collaboration and cooperation among countries in the 
        Western Hemisphere on the issues of energy security, low carbon 
        economic growth, and reducing energy poverty; and
            (3) promotes the active participation by countries, 
        businesses, and civil societies in the Western Hemisphere in 
        this voluntary partnership.
                                 <all>