[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 105 (Thursday, July 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ENERGY AND CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP OF THE 
                                AMERICAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2010

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a resolution to support 
the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas. This resolution 
focuses on an initiative launched by President Obama in Port of Spain, 
Trinidad during the Summit of the Americas in April 2009. The President 
called on all governments to join him in an Energy and Climate 
Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) to address the common challenge of 
securing reliable or affordable access to energy.
  Many countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and El Salvador 
responded to the President's invitation and are working in a variety of 
efforts to promote energy efficiency, fight climate change and increase 
energy access. What makes ECPA stand out is that it's not a U.S.-led or 
wholly U.S.-financed initiative but a collaborative and flexible 
process for moving the hemisphere forward on issues of energy security. 
As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called it, ECPA is like 
``Facebook,'' any country ``can start an initiative and invite others 
to join and countries can be part of as many initiatives as they 
choose.'' ECPA helps strengthen energy security by encouraging energy 
alternatives and by letting governments share best practices and 
expertise about what policies and technologies can help them meet their 
national objectives.
  This resolution highlights the valuable work that ECPA does to 
strengthen energy security in the Western Hemisphere. Under ECPA, some 
of the more than 2,000 Peace Corps volunteers serving in this 
Hemisphere will be trained in renewable energy and energy efficiency 
efforts to educate their host communities and implement small-scale 
renewable energy projects. Another ECPA initiative in Central America 
addresses the issue of the regional power grid. Six Central American 
countries have been working for many years to interconnect their power 
grids in order to reduce power blackouts. With U.S. assistance under 
ECPA, these countries can address some of the last regulatory hurdles 
to trade power in a regional market once their grids are 
interconnected.
  The resolution also notes the important role played by other 
countries under ECPA. Brazil is leading an effort to encourage 
sustainable and energy efficient low-income housing, and promote urban 
development and planning. Mexico will lead an energy efficiency working 
group, while Costa Rica and Peru have created energy efficiency 
centers. Trinidad and Tobago and Chile are developing renewable energy 
centers to promote sustainable energy practices in the region.
  Once again, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce this resolution 
supporting the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas. The 
Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas bolsters energy 
security, reduces energy poverty and encourages low carbon growth in 
the Western Hemisphere. This resolution also encourages the efforts of 
the United States government to expand collaboration to other countries 
in Western Hemisphere as well as promoting active participation by the 
private sector and civil society. I urge my colleagues to strongly 
support this resolution.

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