VZCZCXRO7298
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #0388 1382012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 182012Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7630
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 6014

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000388 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR (ACADIEUX) (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) 
WHA/EPSC (MROONEY)(FCORNEILLE) 
EEB/ESC/IEC/EPC (MMcMANUS) 
INR/RES (RWARNER) 
SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS 
TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW 
USTDA FOR NATHAN YOUNG AND PATRICIA ARRIAGADA 
OPIC FOR ALISON GERMAK 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON ENRG SENV EMIN ASEC KPAO SOCI ETRD TRSY OPIC
OAS, IBRD, XL, JM 
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: PUBLIC OUTREACH BY ENERGY SECURITY EXPERT 
 
REF: A) KINGSTON 97 
B) KINGSTON 755 
C) 08 KINGSTON 286 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Jerome Ringo, research scholar at Yale University 
and president of the Apollo Alliance, a broad coalition of major 
U.S. environmental organizations, visited Jamaica from May 13 to 15. 
 The visit was organized by the U.S. Mission and included several 
speaking engagements, radio interviews, and meetings with GOJ 
officials.  Ringo's visit focused on highlighting the importance of 
energy security and environmental issues.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Energy Security and Private Sector 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On May 13 the Embassy hosted a session for nearly 50 
participants entitled "Raising Awareness on Renewable Energy: A Path 
to Energy Security."  Ringo discussed the importance that energy 
diversification can have on "green job" creation, citing new demand 
for those with the skills to work on wind, solar, or biofuels 
projects.  The session also include presentations from Steven 
Bruce-Miller, President of Dewdrop Homes Jamaica, who discussed 
opportunities in energy management for businesses; and Hopeton 
Heron, Senior Research Assistant/Renewable Energy from the Petroleum 
Corporation of Jamaica, who talked about opportunities for energy 
diversification on the island. (Note: Post has been coordinating 
closely with Heron for the past year on a proposed waste-to-energy 
project.  End Note). 
 
Meeting with Energy Minister 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ringo and Emboffs met with the recently appointed Minister 
of Energy James Robertson on May 13.  Robertson said he was given a 
mandate by Prime Minister Bruce Golding to prepare a green paper on 
energy policy, with a focus on energy diversification.  He added 
that his Ministry was looking into initiating a major liquid natural 
gas (LNG) project in the future.  He said coal power generation was 
also being considered, but LNG was the priority.  (Note: It is 
widely viewed that Robertson replaced Clive Mullings as Minister of 
Energy because he is seen as a person who will act quickly to 
implement change.  Mullings was criticized publically for not acting 
fast enough to address concerns in the sector, although he is 
credited with the successful roll out of E-10 (a 10 percent ethanol 
fuel blend) which is now widely available, Roberson said he will 
continue progress in biofuels and hopes to expand into a program for 
B5 (5 percent biodiesel and diesel blend). 
 
Public Outreach 
--------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Ringo also served as the keynote speaker at a public forum on 
renewable energy at the Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville 
on May 14, met with members of the Jamaica Society of Energy 
Engineers at the University of Technology, and visited the Wigton 
Wind Farm (20 megawatts). 
MOSS