U.S., Canada, Mexico Agree on Energy Efficiency Plan
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico have formally agreed to make their energy systems more efficient. A regional strategy will be implemented to better coordinate and exchange energy research, science, and technology. As one U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) official put it, the three countries are shifting towards a “North American perspective” as they explore how more synergy among their systems will help move us towards a cleaner, more efficient energy system and fight global warming.
This announcement seemed to come out of thin air to me. But apparently these talks stem from the North American Energy Work Group (NAEWG) that was formed in 2001 to improve transparency and regulatory compatibility, promote the development of resources and infrastructure, increase cooperation on efficiency standards, and address challenges on the demand side. The NAEWG began as a place to generate ideas, but has since evolved into developing plans for concrete results and the exchange of information and technology.
Energy efficiency was the top priority because of volatile natural gas and oil prices. Efficiency is also the cheapest, fastest, and easiest way to cut global warming emissions. The three nations will work together to expand the U.S.’s Energy Star program and share best practices and technologies in areas like fuel efficiency and biofuels, which have also been identified as high priorities. The plans specifically intend to benefit businesses, making it easier for those that manufacture appliances, lighting products and electrical equipment to do business across the continent.
More details of a cohesive energy efficiency plan are expected in June, with talks on other energy areas to follow.
Cross posted at Maria Energia
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June 1st, 2007 at 3:10 pm
It should have been controversial in Canada but it made something like page B8 in the newspapers and only because of someone not following parlementary rules during the discussions. Canada does NOT have an energy security policy at all. So truely, this North American energy policy is the US energy policy.
Who will be left freezing in the dark? Can you feel the bitterness?
June 1st, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Thanks for mentioning this. I subscribe to feeds for quite a few news services and blogs (many of them environmental) and this is the first I’ve heard of this agreement. Sounds like it MIGHT be a good idea as long as it doesn’t take a “lowest common denominator” approach and is actually implemented.
June 2nd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I believe there is a great deal of misunderstanding concerning which fuels for vehicles, industry etc. are GREEN.Fuel Alcohol is considered as green if derived from plant material, Eg corn, Sugar cane, grains, Etc. I submit however that we need to add up all the inputs which went into producing the crop and fuel and determine which would generate NON green products.
Take corn alcohol fuel.To grow the corn you need to cultivate, often using tractors and oil based diesel. To make the tractor you need steel from coal burning. The crop will use fertilizer derived from oil or gas and mined nutrients using energy. Harvesting requires tractors again. Weed and pest control uses manufactured organic chemicals and tractors. Transport of the grain to the processing plant uses gasoline.
Processing of the product demands energy usually from power stations (oil/gas /coal?)
Distilling the alcohol fuel demands heat and energy is used.
In the end this so called green energy source of fuel is not really green! It also takes land out of food production in a world where billions are near starvation.The same might be said of bio-diesel.
We need to think hard before we and our politicians classify our actions and solutions as GREEN.