United States and Colombia Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Cooperation on Renewable and Clean Energy
On September 18, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez signed a memorandum
of understanding to advance cooperation on renewable and clean energy. The agreement highlights the fundamental role
energy plays in development, and notes the intention of both governments to promote exchanges, research and development,
alternative development – including sustainable biofuels production – and stimulate private sector investment and
business collaboration on renewable energy.
Secretary Rice and Foreign Minister Bermudez noted the work underway between the United States and Colombia to advance
cooperation on renewable energy. This includes U.S. Departments of State and Agriculture support for projects such as a
Colombian scientist’s August 2008 visit to U.S. renewable energy labs and university research centers in Minnesota and
Colorado, support for U.S. sustainable energy expert visits to Colombia, and collaboration in the Global Bioenergy
Partnership.
The United States, to reduce our dependence on imported oil, promote renewable energy, and increase energy efficiency,
passed the U.S. Energy Security and Independence Act in 2007. Within the last decade, the United States has advanced
clean energy technologies by: providing nearly $18 billion to research, develop, and promote alternative energy
technologies; by investing more than $45 billion for climate-related science, technology, observation, and incentives;
by signing into law loan guarantee authorities of up to $42.5 billion to support innovative energy technologies; by
increasing vehicle fuel economy and the use of biofuels and other advanced technologies in our transportation sector;
and by investing in solar and wind, hydrogen fuel cell technologies, plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as cutting-edge
clean-coal plants and advanced nuclear power technologies.
ENDS