INT'L NEW ENERGY GROUP FOUNDED

International Renewable Energy Agency Launches
29 January 2009 (Environmental France)

"An international body to promote renewable power was founded in Berlin this week. Seventy-five countries signed the founding statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)…

"Originally an initiative of the German government, IRENA plans to offer policy advice to developed and developing countries, promote technology transfer, advise on financing renewable power and enhance capacity building…"

click to enlarge

"The US was not among the signatories to IRENA, but sent an observer from its embassy in Berlin. John Geesman, co-chairman of the board of directors at the American Council On Renewable Energy, urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to revisit the decision of the Bush administration to opt-out of joining the agency…

"European energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs said he hoped the EU would be able to join IRENA in future, indicating that the European Commission plans to ask the Council of Ministers for a mandate to sign up.

"The location of IRENA’s headquarters and the appointment of its first director-general are to be decided place in June 2009."