US Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu met his Irish counterpart Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan in Dublin today. Secretary Chu and Minister Ryan then jointly hosted a town hall meeting in Government Buildings with US and Irish business and NGO leaders entitled, “Clean Energy: The Next Industrial Revolution”.
Minister Ryan welcomed Secretary Chu who is spending 3 days in Ireland with a series of engagements focusing on Ireland’s policy advancements in clean energy and the green economy.
Speaking after their bilateral meeting Secretary Chu said, "Ireland and the United States both have significant offshore potential for wind and wave energy, and we share an interest in developing and deploying these important clean energy technologies. I look forward to continued partnership between the United States and Ireland as we move toward a clean energy future."
Minister Ryan said, “The Irish Government is of like mind with the Obama administration on the energy agenda. Our overriding aims are to reduce this country’s dependence on fossil fuels taking advantage of our unrivalled renewable resources and to fight the global challenge that is climate change. These twin goals are also the basis for Ireland’s economic recovery. America’s Recovery Act with its emphasis on renewable energy, clean technology, advanced vehicle and fuel technologies and a smart electric grid mirrors our own work in Ireland over the past 3 years.
We have positioned Ireland as a test centre for global developments in smart grids, in electric vehicles and in the integration of wind power onto our national grid. We have doubled the amount of renewable energy on our system in the past 2 years. We have upgraded 90,000 houses and are rolling out electric charging infrastructure throughout the country. Clean energy is the next industrial revolution and Ireland is leading the way.
Secretary Chu’s visit to Ireland and his interest in our initiatives proves that Ireland has taken our place as a global centre for the green economy. This transformation of our economy is the perfect countercyclical economic policy and has already yielded thousands of jobs. With even greater ties between our countries in the clean energy space, the investment and new jobs will only continue at pace.”
Both Ministers promised close collaboration between the two countries and discussed the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Ireland on the development of marine energy.
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