U.S. coordinates renewable energy export promotion

U.S. coordinates renewable energy export promotion    Eight U.S. government agencies on Tuesday launched a coordinated effort to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency exports under the banner of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Initiative.
   The initiative was developed through the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee Working Group on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which includes representatives from the Commerce, Energy, State, and Agriculture departments, as well as the Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and Office of the United States Trade Representative.
   Through the initiative, the U.S. government will support renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE&EE) exporters by offering new financing products, enhancing market access, increasing trade promotion and improving the delivery of export promotion services to current and future RE&EE companies.

Locke

   'The initiative lays the foundation necessary to help U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency companies take better advantage of current market opportunities,' said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in a statement. 'It also positions federal government programs to better support U.S. global competitiveness in these sectors over the long run.'
   The initiative, which is described in a report by the Commerce Department report, comes on the heels of formation of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee, which consists of industry leaders. Locke chaired the committee's first meeting Tuesday. The committee will advise the Commerce Department on the development and implementation of programs and policies that will help to expand the competitiveness of the U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.
   The initiative is the U.S. government's first-ever coordinated effort to support the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency exports.
   As part of the initiative, the federal government will start a new online portal to provide renewable energy companies easy access to U.S. government export resources, and the Commerce Department will increase number of RE&EE trade and trade-policy missions. Additionally, the initiative calls for:
   ' Creation of foreign buyers guides for U.S. RE&EE technologies.
   ' Commitment by OPIC to invest an additional $300 million in financing for renewable resource projects in emerging markets and additional new products for energy efficiency subordinated debt financing and clean energy technology equipment leasing.
   ' Streamlining of RE&EE financing applications at both OPIC and Ex-Im Bank.
   ' Formation of a new subcommittee in USTR to address market access barriers facing the U.S. RE&EE industry in foreign markets.
   ' Expansion of USDA's Market Access Program to include biomass wood pellets. ' Chris Gillis