24 countries agree to clean energy initiatives

subscribe

Two-dozen countries agreed in Washington to launch 11 clean energy initiatives that would promote electric vehicles, solar lanterns, smart power grids, efficient appliances and green building.

At the world's first Clean Energy Ministerial, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the programs will spur economic growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He said they'll eliminate the need to build more than 500 midsize power plants worldwide in the next 20 years.

"What we've seen here is that working together, we can accomplish more, faster, than working alone," Chu said as the two-day meeting concluded. The participating countries, including China, India, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Canada, consume more than 80 of the world's energy.

One initiative aims to increase efficiency standards for appliances, starting with TVs and lighting – two globally traded products that together account for about 15 of household electricity use.

To reduce energy waste in buildings, eight companies with more than $600 billion in annual sales and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will develop a program to certify efficiency.

Through sister-city partnerships, the countries aim to deploy at least 20 million electric vehicles by 2020 and reduce global oil consumption by approximately 1 billion barrels over the next decade.

Other initiatives will help promote carbon capture technologies, encourage young women to pursue careers in clean energy and bring solar LED lanterns to more than 10 million of the world's poorest citizens by 2015.

The United Arab Emirates offered to host the second Clean Energy Ministerial in spring 2011, and the United Kingdom offered to host the third one.

Related News

site C

When did BC Hydro really know about Site C dam stability issues? Utilities watchdog wants to know

VANCOUVER - The watchdog B.C. Utilities Commission has sent BC Hydro 70 questions about the troubled Site C dam, asking when geotechnical risks were first identified and when the project’s assurance board was first made aware of potential issues related to the dam’s stability. 

“I think they’ve come to the conclusion — but they don’t say it — that there’s been a cover-up by BC Hydro and by the government of British Columbia,” former BC Hydro CEO Marc Eliesen told The Narwhal. 

On Oct. 21, The Narwhal reported that two top B.C. civil servants, including the senior bureaucrat who prepares Site C…

READ MORE
totalenergies-to-acquire-german-renewables-developer-vsb

TotalEnergies to Acquire German Renewables Developer VSB for US$1.65 Billion

READ MORE

sandvik goldcorp borden mine

Canadian gold mine cleans up its act with electricity

READ MORE

power lines

Buyer's Remorse: Questions about grid modernization affordability

READ MORE

sdg&e

As peak wildfire season nears, SDG&E completes work on microgrid in Ramona

READ MORE