U.S. Government Announces $500,000 for Methane Partnership

U.S. Government Announces $500,000 for Methane Partnership
Ambassador Garza and Environment Secretary Luege Launch
Initiative in Mexico

Mexico City, August 30, 2005 – “The Methane to Markets Partnership announced by President Bush is just one example of America’s commitment to develop and share technology that will increase energy security, improve environmental quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions around the world, � said U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza. “By reducing methane emissions and using methane to generate electricity, Mexico protects the environment while benefiting from a clean source of energy.�

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/mexico/ep050830methane.html

Today Ambassador Garza announced that the United States government will provide US $500,000 to Mexico in technical assistance and project development over the next three years of the Methane to Market Partnership.
Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources José Luis Luege and other high-level environment officials participated in the event. Under Secretary José Ramón ArdavÃÂ*n of the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) heads Mexico’s participation in the Methane to Markets Partnership, while Under Secretary Carlos Garza of the Secretariat of Energy is responsible for energy planning and technology development. SEMARNAT Under Secretary Fernando Tudela, who represented Mexico at the Ministerial Launch of the Partnership in November 2004, described the development of the initiative. Jaime LomelÃÂ*n of the Private Sector Commission for Sustainable Development (CESPEDES) represented the private sector and Jorge Garcés, the North American Development Bank. Mexico is a founding member and leading partner in the worldwide initiative.

Garza noted, “In July 2004, President Bush announced the Methane to Markets Partnership, through which 16 countries around the world currently are seeking to improve the capture and productive use of methane gas around the world. Methane is an important natural gas that dramatically affects the earth’s climate system. As a result, efforts to capture methane and use it for electrical generation yield environmental, economic, energy and safety benefits. The U.S. is committing up to US $53 million over the next five years to support the Partnership.�

The United States Agency for International Development and the Environmental Protection Agency are cooperating with a working group, led by SEMARNAT, to identify projects where methane can be captured, then converted into a usable resource. In Mexico, there are opportunities for methane capture from oil and gas pipelines, sanitary landfills, coal mines and livestock waste.