Energy Commission Hosts Mexican Senators as Part of Ongoing Collaboration on Energy
A delegation of senators from Mexico visited with the California Energy Commission to talk about ongoing collaborations between Mexico and California on renewable energy and economic development opportunities.
The February 16 visit is part of follow-up activities resulting from an agreement that Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Mexican Ministry of Energy Secretary Pedro JoaquÃn Coldwell signed in 2014. The agreement promotes cooperation between the two governments to implement programs in low-carbon energy, clean technologies, biofuels, and energy efficiency.
The delegation’s Sacramento visit included meetings with Governor Brown, legislators, and business community members.
“The Energy Commission welcomes the opportunity to build bridges with our neighbors in Mexico,” said Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller. “Cooperation in the areas of renewable energy and clean technology can help create jobs and investment on both sides of the border.”
California represents only 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but its leadership demonstrates that it is possible to reduce carbon emissions and grow the economy. California’s international efforts are part of its ambitious goals to increase international collaboration on environmental protection and economic development.
To date, 11 Mexican states have signed the Under2 MOU, which is a global pact of subnational jurisdictions spearheaded by California and the German state of Baden-Württemberg to limit the increase in global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius.
The Energy Commission also recently signed agreements with the states of Aguascalientes and Jalisco to collaborate on clean energy policies and programs.
In 2016, the Energy Commission hosted a week-long visit for representatives from the Comisión Reguladora de EnergÃa (CRE). Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister also participated in a collaborative energy efficiency workshop held in Mexico City. Workshop hosts included Mexico’s Ministry of Energy (SENER), the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT)-SENER Energy Sustainability Fund, the Energy Working Group of the UC-Mexico Initiative, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Mexico Energy Initiative at Casa de la Universidad de California en Mexico.
