VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #5916 3452127
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 112108Z DEC 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN IMMEDIATE 0000

UNCLAS STATE 165916 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
 - PLEASE PASS TO ECON AND ESTOFF. 
FOR COPENHAGEN PLEASE PASS TO REO. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV TRGY SOCIS KPAO ENG
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY FOR WIREC SUPPORT 
 
 
¶1.  (U) THIS IS AN ACTION CABLE, PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 3. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  The USG will host the Washington 
International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) on 
March 4-6, 2008 at the Washington Convention Center.  As 
the third global ministerial-level event on renewable 
energy, WIREC is expected to draw up to 2,000 senior level 
participants from around the world from national and 
subnational governments, the private sector and civil 
society.  The robust participation of developing countries 
from all stakeholder groups will enhance the success of 
WIREC 2008.  The Department is soliciting support from 
potential donor governments (i.e., Canada, Denmark, the 
EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, 
Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom) to provide support 
for both official delegations as well as key renewable 
energy experts.  We estimate that $5,500 will be needed to 
cover the travel and per diem costs for each developing 
country participant.  To date, we understand that Germany 
will provide up to 100,000 euros.  Please note, for your 
information only, we anticipate needing to raise $1.5 
million for developing country scholarships.  The attached 
letter from UnderSecretary Dobriansky to Norway's Mr. 
Haraldsen, Director General, Technology and Industry 
Department, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, requests the 
Government of Norway to consider providing funds for 
developing country participants to attend WIREC2008.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (U) ACTION:  Post is requested to deliver the letter 
dated November 23, 2007 to Director General Haraldsen. 
Please note that the hard copy of the letter has been 
delivered to the DCM at their embassy in Washington. 
 
¶4. BEGIN TEXT: 
 
Dear Mr. Haraldsen: 
 
      The United States of America will host the 
Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 
(WIREC 2008) on March 4-6, 2008, at the Washington 
Convention Center. We salute Norway's commitment to 
hydropower production and investment of several million 
dollars in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 
Partnerships with developing countries to provide solar 
power to poor areas.  As the third global ministerial-level event 
on renewable energy, WIREC 2008 is expected to draw 2,000 
senior level participants from around the world, including 
leaders from national and sub-national governments, the 
private sector, and civil society.  To help us ensure 
broad-based participation across all stakeholder groups, 
we are working with many organizations, including REN21, 
the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, 
etc.  WIREC 2008 will also feature a co-located trade 
show-business conference, separately managed by the 
American Council on Renewable Energy and other partnering 
organizations from U.S. and international renewable energy 
associations. 
 
     The United States Government officially launched 
WIREC on October 2 in Washington, DC.   The launch event 
drew over two hundred representatives from the private 
sector, civil society and foreign governments.  Under 
Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development Thomas Dorr 
 
SIPDIS 
and I provided opening remarks and representatives from 
the White House, the Departments of Energy and Commerce; 
the Environmental Protection Agency also participated. 
Please see www.wirec2008.gov for additional information. 
 
     Robust participation of developing countries from 
government (federal and sub-national), the private sector 
and civil society will enhance the success of WIREC 2008. 
We would like to provide financial support for both 
official delegations as well as key renewable energy 
experts from developing countries.  Based on our 
projections, we estimate that $5,500 will be needed to 
cover the travel and per diem costs for each developing 
country participant. 
 
      I would be grateful for any assistance you can 
provide to help us achieve our participation goal.  If you 
wish to provide support for developing country travel, you 
may provide funds to a special account established by the 
U.S. Energy Association (USEA) for this purpose.  USEA 
will coordinate with donor governments to handle the 
necessary travel arrangements and provide donor 
governments with an accounting for the sponsored 
delegations.  Ms. Marjorie Jean-Pierre, Deputy Program 
Manager, is the USEA point of contact.  She can be reached 
by phone at 1-202-312-1230 or via e-mail at 
mjean-pierre@usea.org. 
 
      Please let me know if you have any questions 
regarding this request as I am eager to hear your 
suggestions and recommendations.  If you would find it 
helpful, OES Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
Ambassador Reno Harnish would welcome the chance to 
discuss WIREC 2008 with you in greater detail either when 
you are next in Washington, or via a video or telephone 
conference call.  I would also appreciate your providing 
me with a working contact in your ministry for my staff to 
discuss WIREC's progress in detail. 
 
Sincerely, Paula 
Dobriansky, UnderSecretary of State for Democracy and 
Global Affairs."  End text. 
 
¶5.  No hard copy to follow. 
RICE