U.S. joins International Renewable Energy Agency
Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:23am EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States joined the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on Monday as part of the Obama administration's commitment to developing a new energy policy, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
IRENA was established in January to promote development of the renewable energy industry worldwide. To date, 135 nations have joined the global organization that will be headquartered in the United Arab Emirates.
"Our government's participation is an important element of the administration's effort to support clean energy technologies and the development of low carbon economies to address global climate change," Clinton said in a statement.
Clinton added that the new agency would help ensure that global resources are put to maximum effect, especially in response to the needs of the developing world.
(Reporting by Joanne Allen, editing by Anthony Boadle)
Masdar City to be IRENA HQ
SustainableBusiness.com:
06/30/2009 12:07 PM
International Renewable Energy Agency to Be Headquartered in UAE
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) created in January will be headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, according to Egypt's state news agency MENA.
UAE said it plans to house IRENA in Masdar City--the high-profile carbon neutral city currently under development. The headquarters are expected to be ready by 2011, and UAE said it would spend $136 million by 2015 to fund IRENA.
The decision was made by vote during a conference in Egypt, attended by 129 states.
According to reports, Austria and Germany withdrew their bids to host the Agency's main headquarters, prior to the vote. However, IRENA's innovation and technology center will be located in Bonn, Germany and an office for contacts to the U.N. will be created in Vienna, Austria.
IRENA was created to promote rapid and widespread adoption of renewable energy. It has 114 member state.
Website: www.irena.org
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