07 November 2006
International Partnership Yields Economic, Environmental Benefits
Methane used as clean energy in agriculture, coal mines, natural gas systems
Washington -- A new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that a $5.4 million investment in an international program whose partners work to recover and use methane as a clean energy source has leveraged more than $235 million in public- and private-sector contributions.
“The U.S. Government Accomplishments in Support of the Methane to Markets Partnership” chronicles U.S. contributions to advancing methane recovery-and-use projects worldwide.
The Methane to Markets Partnership, launched by President Bush in 2004, is a public-private partnership formed to advance methane recovery-and-use projects in four sectors -- agriculture, coal mines, landfills, and oil and natural gas systems.
Methane is a clean-burning fuel that is the main component of natural gas. It accounts for 16 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions from human sources and is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide at capturing and keeping heat in the atmosphere.
More than 350 organizations from around the world have made commitments to the partnership, and the United States will commit up to $53 million to the initiative over the next five years, according to the EPA November 7.
"As good global neighbors,” said EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, “America is working with our international partners to reduce our climate footprints in aggressive yet practical ways."
Once the methane projects are fully implemented, they are expected to produce annual greenhouse reductions of nearly 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of 800,000 U.S. homes, in the United States and around the world. (See related article.)
U.S. CONTRIBUTIONS
EPA, the departments of State, Energy and Agriculture, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency developed the report.
It summarizes agency contributions and profiles methane capture-and-use projects around the world supported by the U.S. government that address the challenges of clean development and climate change, including the following:
· The world's largest power-generation project fueled by coal-mine methane in Jincheng, China. (See related article.)
· New compressor-station technology in Ukraine in the oil and gas sector.
· Landfill gas-to-energy projects in Latin America.
· Livestock waste-management technologies in East Asia.
According to the report, the United States is supporting technology demonstrations and pre-feasibility and feasibility studies at potential project sites; addressing market, institutional and other barriers to project development; and building capacity through technology transfer and training.
In 2006, the report says, the U.S. government plans to commit up to $12 million to Methane to Markets activities and projects.
GROWING MEMBERSHIP
Countries that have joined the partnership to date are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.
On November 3, EPA announced that the Asian Development Bank joined the Methane to Markets Partnership. The Manila-based bank, with extensive experience in clean energy projects, will provide expertise in implementing and financing full-scale projects.
The bank is the second multilateral development bank to join the Methane to Markets Partnership after the World Bank. Its participation will bolster the capacity of the Asia-Pacific region to mitigate global climate change.
Most recently, the Asian Development Bank loaned $117 million to the Jincheng Anthracite Coal Group in Shanxi Province, China, which will be the world's largest power plant fueled by coal-mine methane.
"The bank's participation will help develop and strengthen partnerships in Asia,” said Jerry Clifford, EPA's deputy assistant administrator for the Office of International Affairs, in a statement, “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver clean energy to markets throughout the region."
A Methane to Markets Partnership Expo will be held in fall 2007 to showcase the partnership’s achievements and global opportunities for methane recovery and use.
The event will provide a forum to highlight methane capture and use technologies and services, showcase project opportunities to potential investors and discuss key technical, policy, financing and regulatory issues related to project development.
The full report and information about the Methane to Markets Partnership is available at the EPA Web site.
For more information on clean energy projects, see Environment.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
