| USA. Clinton Global Initiative recognises Governor Rendell's clean energy policies |
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| Thursday, 21 September 2006 | |
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Environmental news: Governor Edward G. Rendell's clean energy efforts once again are on display before a national and international audience at the second meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City this week. "Pennsylvania offers a vivid illustration of the economic and environmental benefits we can achieve by shifting our focus from foreign fuels and overseas investments to the production and use of clean, advanced, indigenous resources found right here at home," Governor Rendell said. "This is a tremendous opportunity to share the Pennsylvania story on an international stage." Governor Rendell's clean energy efforts were highlighted as part of former President Bill Clinton's inaugural meeting in September 2005. The initiative gathers a diverse and select group of current and former heads of state, business leaders, academicians and key nongovernmental organization representatives from around the world to address a variety of issues, including improving the environment and economy through clean energy. Set for Sept. 20-22 in New York City, the event features former Vice President Al Gore, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, cyclist Lance Armstrong, Bill and Melinda Gates, publisher Rupert Murdoch, CBS News anchor Katie Couric and an array of some 900 other distinguished and dedicated leaders. "This conference enables us to continue building relationships with business and government leaders from around the world," said Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty, who is representing Governor Rendell in four clean energy forums at the event at the invitation of former President Clinton. McGinty also attended the first Clinton Global Initiative. "Governor Rendell has made Pennsylvania an internationally-recognized leader in alternative energy development and deployment," McGinty said. "His initiatives are providing economic opportunities for Pennsylvania on a global level, attracting foreign manufacturers and investors looking to set up business in our state and put our residents to work." Recognition of the Governor's energy efforts have been widespread. McGinty outlined the state's many initiatives at the United Nations in New York City in April. The conference featured world economic and environmental leaders, national and international film, arts and fashion representatives, and human rights activists who are working on new business strategies and technologies - - including those in the renewable energy development arena -- to improve environments and economies worldwide. McGinty represented Governor Rendell at a meeting in March with members of the U.S. Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee seeking solutions to decrease the nation's dangerous dependence on foreign oil. Participants at invitation-only meeting included more than two dozen policy experts and representatives of various high-tech industries, energy trade associations, consumer groups and environmental organizations. As a result of that meeting, several U.S. Senate members adopted Governor Rendell's "Energy Deployment for a Growing Economy" (EDGE) initiative, which provides regulatory and financial incentives to shut down older, dirtier, inefficient power plants and re-power with advanced coal gasification technology. U.S. Senate Democrats' recently unveiled Clean EDGE Act of 2006 is a broad framework to encourage domestic energy development to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil by 40 percent. Governor Rendell also made a national impact in December when he outlined Pennsylvania's clean energy plan during a speech before the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where he called for a massive national commitment to alternative energy. His "American Energy Harvest" initiative harnesses the power of renewable energy and strengthens economies by reducing dependence on foreign energy imports. The Governor's energy initiatives were featured across Europe during the WindEnergy 2006 conference in Germany in May. Thousands of companies, individuals, investors and energy associations participated in the event, which featured exhibitors from 26 countries. Pennsylvania was the only U.S. state afforded a keynote speaking opportunity at the plenary session. All other speakers were European. The state's presence in Germany was strengthened earlier this month with an agreement between Pennsylvania and Germany's leading industrial state, North Rhine-Westphalia, to attract more foreign investment and job creation in the commonwealth's energy sector. The memorandum of understanding calls for exchanging ideas and information on alternative energy issues and mutually enhancing economic opportunities between the governments. Governor Rendell has pursued a broad array of policies and financial tools in place to promote advanced energy projects in the commonwealth. Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, one of the most progressive in the nation, ensures that 18 percent of all retail energy generated by 2020 comes from clean, efficient and advanced resources. The law promises to build substantially on the state's leadership in wind production east of the Mississippi, with wind sources providing enough clean energy to power some 70,000 homes. Because of that leadership, Governor Rendell was able to lead a campaign to land the Spanish wind-energy company Gamesa Corp., the second largest wind energy company in the world, beating out many other vying states. With its U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia and manufacturing facilities in Bucks and Cambria counties, Gamesa represents an $84 million investment in the state that will create as many as 1,000 jobs over five years. The state's clean energy law far surpasses other states in ensuring wide distribution and use of zero-pollution solar power. By 2021, when the solar share is in full effect, utilities will be required to purchase 700 megawatts of solar-produced electricity --- the second largest solar requirement in the nation. The commonwealth is leading in other areas of advanced energy development, creating jobs and cleaning up the environment while putting indigenous resources to work. The Governor recently redoubled the commonwealth's "green" electricity commitment to 20 percent, making Pennsylvania the largest state purchaser of green electricity in the nation. Pennsylvania also is second only to California in the number of buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under the internationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. Governor Rendell's "PennSecurity Fuels Initiative" will produce and use 900-million gallons annually of clean, domestic fuel --- an amount equivalent to what the state is expected to import from the Persian Gulf 10 years from now. The Governor is investing $30 million over the next five years to build re-fueling and production infrastructure to support wide distribution of the alternative fuels. Pennsylvania very well could be the nation's leading producer of biodiesel within the year, going from practically nowhere a year ago to a projected 40- million gallons of annual production. The state also contains enough plant matter to produce in excess of 500 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. The nation's first coal gasification-liquefaction plant is being built in northeastern Pennsylvania. The facility will use waste coal to produce 40- million gallons of clean-burning diesel fuel each year. What the Governor is doing to support the project is unprecedented, creating a fuel consortium with private industry to purchase nearly all of the offtake. Pennsylvania will lock in its supply for some 10 years at prices well below current market values and ensure a long-term, viable market for the plant. Pennsylvanians now spend some $30 billion per year on imported energy fuels. Instead of spending overseas, Governor Rendell is investing at home and putting Pennsylvanians to work. Brought back to life after years of inactivity, the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has awarded $15 million in grants and loans for 41 clean energy projects that will leverage $200 million in private investment. The projects will create 1,558 permanent and construction jobs. The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program has awarded $15.9 million and leveraged another $43.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003 for projects using sources such as wind, solar, biomass, waste coal and recycled energy. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 September 2006 ) |
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