Clean-energy deal signed Friday in 1st step to green NAFTA

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Clean-energy deal signed Friday in 1st step to green NAFTA

[ http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/ca ... -1.3444675 ]

The challenge is use 'this very low spot' in the commodity cycle to effect change: Jim Carr

Margo McDiarmid · CBC News February 12, 2016

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QUOTE: ""For years the American government has been trying to talk to Canada about clean energy and unfortunately they kept hearing back about pipelines," he said. "It was a bit of a dialogue of the deaf."

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Canada, the United States and Mexico have signed a trilateral agreement that could mark the start of discussions on the first North American accord on climate change and clean energy.

Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and Mexico's secretary of energy, Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, signed a memorandum of understanding on North American climate change and energy collaboration in Winnipeg on Friday.

"As of today all of our North American energy data and energy maps are gathered on one platform for the first time. This is significant because it allows us to think about continental energy integration in a new light," Carr said Friday morning in Winnipeg.

"This memorandum takes the important strides we've made in recent years towards a continental approach to energy and expands our relationship in support of an even more ambitious clean-energy environmental agreement."

Moniz credited today's agreement to the "tremendous" change in the the energy scene in North America, the "revived relationship" between the three countries and "the change of government here in Canada."

"The trilateral relationship certainly is not missing a beat," the U.S. energy secretary said on Friday.

"If anything, I think it's accelerating even more with the very strong Canadian commitment in the areas of energy, environment and innovation."

Coldwell, who spoke in Spanish through a translator, said wind power is the fastest growing energy source in Mexico.

He spoke of the three countries' "common objectives" to offer competitive electricity rates from clean-energy sources supported by sustainable infrastructure.

Sources told CBC News the emphasis going forward will be on a "low-carbon future" for North America.

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Sources say the timing of today's announcement is not a coincidence. Domestic climate policy will reach a new chapter next month when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with the premiers in Vancouver to talk about a national climate strategy. [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/environ ... -1.3441886 ] A week later, Trudeau heads to Washington for an official state dinner with U.S. President Barack Obama.

Demerse thinks today's agreement puts the two countries back on the same page.

"For years the American government has been trying to talk to Canada about clean energy and unfortunately they kept hearing back about pipelines," he said. "It was a bit of a dialogue of the deaf.

"Now, we are finally catching up to where our allies are, and that will make the conversation and relationship a more effective one."

The energy ministers met Thursday in Winnipeg ahead of the official signing Friday morning.

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