VZCZCXYZ0006
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #6241 3462018
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121959Z DEC 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN IMMEDIATE 0000

UNCLAS STATE 166241 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
FOR ECON AND REO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV TRGY SOCIS KPAO ENG NB
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK FOR WIREC 
SUPPORT; MR. PER STIG MOLLER  (MINISTER, MINISTRY OF 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS) 
 
 
¶1.  THIS IS AN INFORMATION CABLE, PLEASE SEE PARA 3. 
 
¶2. 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 WIREC2008.  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 was personally 
delivered to Denmark,s MFA Stig Moller while he was in 
Washington, and requests the Government of Denmark to 
consider providing funds for developing country participants 
to attend WIREC2008.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. On November 23, 2007, a hard copy of the following letter 
was hand delivered to Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs, 
Stig Moller while he was visiting the United States. 
OES/PDAS Reno Harnish will be calling the Minister in the 
near future to follow-up on the possibility of Denmark's 
providing financial support for WIREC2008. 
 
¶4. BEGIN TEXT 
 
Dear Mr. Minister: 
 
      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 Denmark,s commitment and leadership in wind energy 
development and commend your ability to provide for more than 
20% of the nation,s electricity needs from this source.  As 
the third global ministerial-level event on renewable energy, 
WIREC2008 is expected to draw 2,000 senior level participants 
from around the world, including leaders from national and 
subnational 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.  WIREC2008 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 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 subnational), 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. 
RICE