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USTDA and USDOE Welcome Energy Officials from Latin America and the Carribean(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The Trade and Development Agency issued the following news release: Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy welcomed senior energy officials from Latin America and the Caribbean for a week-long visit to observe efforts underway in the United States to integrate renewable energy resources into electric grids. The USTDA-sponsored visit will provide delegates from Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico and Panama an opportunity to meet with key U.S. policy-makers and regulatory bodies leading renewable energy integration, including: the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. The delegation will also meet with U.S. technology and service providers, independent system operators, and utilities to learn about leading innovations in the sector. "Today's meeting between the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Trade and Development Agency and senior officials from Latin America and the Caribbean continues a critical dialogue centered on advancing renewable energy technologies throughout the Americas," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. "We are honored to host such important regional partners to discuss some of the initiatives taking place at the Department of Energy, and throughout the U.S., to combat climate change and secure our low-carbon energy future." "It is an honor to host such distinguished delegates from Latin America and the Caribbean as they identify solutions to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels," said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak. "Throughout their visit to the United States, I am confident that the delegation will see innovative U.S. products and services that can be easily deployed in their countries to help them achieve their renewable energy goals." Access to affordable and reliable power remains a challenge throughout much of Latin America and the Caribbean, with many countries continuing to rely on more costly and less environmentally friendly imported fossil fuels for energy generation. Over 31 million people lack access to electricity throughout the region, which, according to the International Energy Agency, needs over $700 billion in power sector investments by 2035. In order to support the financing of this critical infrastructure, the delegation will meet with the Inter-American Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation and private lending institutions to discuss investment plans and financing options. They will also travel to Austin, TX to meet with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Austin Energy, as well as to tour the University of Texas' Pecan Street research and development program for smart grid deployment. In Denver, CO, the delegates will visit the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, participate in an industry roundtable hosted by the World Trade Center Denver, and tour Xcel Energy's operations and trading floor. The delegates include: * Omar Serrano, Head of the Office of Regulatory and Business Affairs, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Colombia * Henry Zapata, Specialist in Unconventional Energy Resources, Mining and Energy Planning Unit, Colombia * Raul Rodriguez, Transmission Specialist, Mining and Energy Planning Unit, Colombia * Irene Canas, Deputy Minister of Energy, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica * Juan Manuel Quesada, Manager for Energy, Regulatory Authority for Public Services, Costa Rica * Alberto Veloz, Vice Minister, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Dominican Republic * Luis Reyes, Executive Secretary, National Energy Council, El Salvador * Enrique Rosales, Advisor to the Superintendent on Renewable Energy Matters, General Superintendence of Electricity and Telecommunications, El Salvador * Luis Gonzalez, General Manager, Unidad de Transacciones, El Salvador * Nemorio Gonzalez, Deputy Director General for Restructuring, Secretariat of Energy, Mexico * Jeff Pavlovic, Adjunct General Director of Generation and Transmission, Secretariat of Energy, Mexico * Cesar Garza, Chief of the Northern Control Area, National Center for Energy Control, Mexico * Rebeca Ramirez, Senior Electrical Engineer, Secretariat of Energy, Panama * Edilberto Esquivel, Manager for Hydrometeorology, ETESA, Panama TNS 30BautistaJude 141028-4914651 30BautistaJude (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |