North American “Amigos” To Pledge Boosting Clean Energy

The leaders of the North American triumvirate of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico will pledge to have their respective countries increase their output of clean energy sources.

According to Reuters on 27 June 2016, each country would produce at least 50 percent of their output via clean energy means by the year 2025. The plan, which was announced prior to the “Three Amigos” summit in Ottawa on 29 June 2016, would allow for a greater use of hydropower, solar, nuclear, and wind plants, emphasize carbon capture and storage, and promote energy efficiency measures.

“This is the first time you’ve seen the three countries that represent such a tremendous share of the global output, global carbon footprint, agree on this specific target,” said an unnamed official from the office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the Toronto Star.

Canada produces 81 percent of its electricity from hydroelectric, solar, wind and nuclear power generation, which is far more than approximately 33 percent for the U.S. and less than 20 percent for Mexico. Among all countries, however, 37 percent of energy is produced through clean energy sources.

Related: Texas Sees A Bump In Oil And Natural Gas Output

“We believe this is an aggressive goal, but for all three countries, one that we believe is achievable, continent-wide,” said Brian Deese, a senior adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama.

All countries will be challenged to increase their clean energy output, though the greatest burden may fall on the U.S., which procures around three-quarters of total power for North America. Another obstacle arose last February when a sharply divided Supreme Court opted to block federal regulations limiting carbon emissions from power plants.

Deese anticipates Obama, Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto will also announce new deals that would facilitate trading and transmitting clean energy across the North American region.

By Erwin Cifuentes for Oilprice.com

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