July 2007
The first
trilateral framework agreement on energy science and technology was inked
Monday by the energy ministers for Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The compact is designed to stimulate innovation and to share and help
build energy capacity in all three countries.
The ministers said they will look for ways to increase cooperation on
research and development and to reduce barriers to the deployment of new
technologies in biofuels, gas hydrates, hydrogen, carbon capture and
storage, clean coal, and electricity transmission.
To further these efforts, the three countries will exchange scientific and
technical personnel to participate in joint studies and projects.
"Science and technology are fundamental to increasing energy security,
sustaining economic prosperity and protecting our environment," said
Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn, who hosted his
counterparts Mexican Energy Secretary Georgina Kessel, and U.S. Energy
Secretary Samuel Bodman at the Victoria meeting.
"With greater North American cooperation, all three of our nations can
increase the potential return on our investments in energy science and
technology," said Lunn.
"Our challenge in North America is to make the use of energy compatible
with economic growth and the preservation of the environment. Basic and
applied scientific research, which this agreement promotes, is a key
factor in overcoming this challenge successfully," said Kessel.
Bodman said, "Today's trilateral agreement renews our joint efforts to
ensure sustainable energy development, increase energy efficiency and
advance the use of clean energy technologies across North America and the
world," Bodman said.
In a joint statement, the three ministers confirmed their commitment to
aligning energy-efficiency standards on key consumer products. Their
recent collaborative efforts have harmonized energy performance standards
for refrigerators, air conditioners and large electric motors.
They committed to strengthening trilateral cooperation on motor vehicle
fuel efficiency and standby power consumption, and identified seven
additional energy-using products as potential candidates for
harmonization.
Regarding standby power - the electricity consumed by electronics when not
in use - the ministers agreed to support a trilateral workshop that will
be held in Mexico City in September to explore possible joint approaches.
The ministers discussed increasing the region's energy security,
recognizing the critical contribution that an integrated energy market
makes to the North American economy, representing approximately US $150
billion in trade between the three countries.
"While recognizing and fully respecting the jurisdictional authorities of
each country," the three ministers committed to work together to enhance
the effectiveness of the North American energy market.
Cooperation on energy issues has also been a key element of discussions
among the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. since 2005.
Last year in Cancun, the countries' leaders renewed their commitment to
trilateral cooperation on energy conservation, clean energy technologies
and bringing new energy technologies to the marketplace.
In their joint statement the energy ministers said, "The outcomes of
today's meeting will demonstrate to leaders the effectiveness of
cooperation by the energy ministers on energy security" in advance of the
North American Leaders' Summit to be held August 20 and 21 in Montebello,
Quebec."
Energy will be one of the important issues for U.S. President George W.
Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Felipe Calderon
of Mexico at their meeting in Montebello.
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