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OO RUEHAST RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHSG #0214/01 0651831
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061831Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4588
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6028
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 6113
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0738
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4277
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3830
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1978
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2204
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTIAGO 000214 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC LEAH CATO 
STATE FOR OES/STC EILEEN KANE 
STATE FOF WHA/EPSC FAITH CORNEILLE AND FRANCES COLON 
EMBASSY RASILIA FOR ANNE BRAGEHETTA 
STATE FOR EEB/ESC/IEC 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ENRG SENV TRGY PGOV CI
SUBJECT:  EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM IN CHILE 
 
REF:  A) STATE 10843; B) SANTIAGO 93; C) SANTIAGO 202 
 
¶1. (U) Embassy Santiago would like to submit the following two 
proposals for Embassy Science Fellows (ref a).  The requests are 
separate and independent of each other. 
 
¶2. (U) The point of contact for the proposals is ESTH officer Mary 
Brett Rogers-Springs; rogers-springsmb@state.gov; telephone: 
(56)(2)330-3334; fax: (56)(2)330-3118.  Back-up is Senior Economic 
Officer Alexander (Sasha) Kasanof: kasanofa@state.gov; telephone: 
(56)(2)330-3397; fax: (56)(2)330-3118. 
 
PROPOSAL 1: 
Policy Development on Renewables/Clean Coal Technology 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶3. (U) Post would like to request an Embassy Science Fellow to 
encourage the development of renewable energy sources and the use of 
clean coal technology in Chile, which will help reduce the 
environmental impact of coal energy generation.  The Fellow would 
engage with Chile's National Energy Commission (CNE, www.cne.cl), 
the National Environmental Commission (CONAMA, www.conama.cl), and a 
non-governmental organization called Fundacion Chile, as well as 
other government and private sector contacts.  This would be a 
three-month assignment with a flexible timeframe.  A medical 
clearance would be necessary; however, a security clearance is not 
required.  This project would benefit from a Fellow with experience 
in renewable energy, energy technologies, engineering, environmental 
law and regulation, and/or energy and environmental policy.  An 
ideal candidate would also have a strong command of both spoken and 
written Spanish. 
 
¶4. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Chile faces an energy crisis triggered by 
decreased supplies of natural gas from Argentina and reduced 
rainfall, forcing the thermal energy infrastructure to rely more 
heavily on expensive diesel and to consider increasing the use of 
coal. 
 
¶5. (U) Despite an increasing number of renewable energy projects, 
especially wind farms, coal in the short run will be an important 
source of electricity for Chile (ref b).  Currently, coal represents 
15 percent of this capacity, but the number of projects using coal 
for generating electricity has increased considerably since 2007. 
Taking into account plants under construction, projects already 
approved by the National Environmental Commission (CONAMA) or in the 
approval process, by 2012 Chile will be producing over 7,200 MW 
using coal, an amount equivalent to 55 percent of the country's 
total capacity.  According to a government report, increasing coal's 
share in electricity generation will increase Chile's annual carbon 
dioxide emissions by four times; from 70 million tons to close to 
300 million by 2030.  Currently, the CNE and CONAMA are considering 
new regulations for coal thermoelectric plants. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The GOC has dedicated resources to design a long-term 
energy policy.  This effort includes studying all energy options to 
avoid a situation where the supply and cost of energy becomes an 
obstacle to the country's development and economic growth.  Chilean 
officials have consistently requested U.S. collaboration on energy 
and environmental issues.  Post has committed itself to provide 
support to Chile in developing this policy, which aims to diversify 
Chile's energy matrix and provide greater energy security. 
 
¶7. (U) PROPOSED WORK PROGRAM:  The Embassy Science Fellow would work 
with CNE and CONAMA's legal and environmental units to identify or 
develop programs and policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions 
from coal-fired plants.  S/he would also work with Fundacion Chile 
to promote clean coal technology and capacity-building programs to 
support private sector electricity generation companies in efforts 
to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  In addition, s/he would 
evaluate current measures and plans developed by the GOC on clean 
coal technology to identify weaknesses, strengths, areas of 
improvement, and policy or regulatory alternatives. 
 
¶8. (U) Chile is also in the process of developing a renewable energy 
center as part of its plan to balance its three main energy goals of 
security, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.  The center 
 
SANTIAGO 00000214  002 OF 003 
 
 
is envisioned as an information clearing house to identify clean 
technology developments and best practices and then coordinate the 
dissemination of such information throughout the country.  Chile 
recently announced that it has funding and plans to launch the 
center in 2009 (ref c).  A Fellow could advise CNE policy-makers on 
how to develop the center.  S/he could also provide a connection to 
USG resources to support the center and help build capacity. 
 
¶9. (U) Post will provide housing in Santiago, use of office space in 
the Political-Economic section at the Embassy, and other travel and 
logistical support as required. 
 
¶10. (U) Embassy RSO and Management have approved this request. 
 
PROPOSAL 2: 
Advisor on Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Projects 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶11. (U) Post would like to request an Embassy Science Fellow to work 
with public and private sector contacts as an advisor in developing 
and implementing specific projects to promote renewable energy and 
energy efficiency awareness and education.  This would be a three 
month assignment from August to October 2009, although post can be 
flexible.  A medical clearance would be necessary; however, a 
security clearance is not required.  The current outline of these 
projects is broad enough to benefit from a Fellow with experience in 
several different areas, including renewable energy, energy 
efficiency, engineering, project management, and/or education. 
In-depth knowledge of these areas would not be required.  An ideal 
candidate would have a strong command of both spoken and written 
Spanish. 
 
¶12. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Two of post's priority areas for engaging with 
Chile are energy and environment.  In October 2008, the Embassy 
organized a roundtable discussion with Dr. Edward Guiliano, 
President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Institute of 
Technology (NYIT), private sector business people, government 
representatives, and educators who work on renewable energy and 
energy efficiency.  Participants exchanged ideas on how to promote 
renewable energy and energy efficiency in Chile.  The overall goal 
of the discussion was to develop an outline of a collaborative 
"deliverable" in the form of a pilot/demonstration project 
incorporating renewable energy and energy efficiency.  Three general 
ideas were developed: 
 
(1)  A mobile demonstration project for a broad public audience, 
especially youth, that focuses on a hands-on approach to educating 
about energy efficiency and renewable energy options; 
 
(2) A contest for university students that would encourage them to 
develop a local project focused on energy efficiency and renewables, 
including developing new power generation ideas; 
 
(3) A project geared toward lower-income brackets (those most 
affected by rising energy prices) that could also be a demonstration 
project, but would have a heavy educational component and likely be 
more focused on outreach. 
 
¶13. (U) PROPOSED WORK PROGRAM: Post would like an Embassy Fellow to 
work with the government, private sector, and university contacts to 
foster collaboration, further develop the project ideas, help create 
workplans and outreach strategies, and begin implementation of the 
projects. 
 
¶14. (U) While the duration of the projects themselves should not be 
more than 3-6 months, post anticipates they will have a longer-term 
impact.  In addition to public outreach and education, the projects 
are intended to foster relationships between people and organization 
with the ability to design and implement projects and programs, 
institute formal training programs, develop sustainable building 
processes, further public-private partnerships, increase university 
collaboration, etc.  In addition, having a Fellow engaged in this 
process would help post identify areas for further collaboration. 
 
¶15. (U) Post will provide housing in Santiago, use of office space 
in the Political-Economic section at the Embassy, and other travel 
 
SANTIAGO 00000214  003 OF 003 
 
 
and logistical support as required. 
 
¶16. (U) Embassy RSO and Management have approved this request. 
SIMONS