The United States of America and the Federative Republic of Brazil reaffirmed their shared commitment to joint energy and science cooperation and to the exchange of ideas during the third plenary meeting of the U.S.-Brazil Strategic Energy Dialogue.  U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall co-chaired the meeting with Brazil’s Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Luiz Eduardo Barata Ferreira on November 13 in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy explored opportunities for technical, regulatory, and policy cooperation in a number of areas:  wind and solar energy, including floating photovoltaic generation; hydropower; building and industrial efficiency; biofuels; oil and gas development, including unconventional resources; grid modernization; energy-water nexus; and safe and secure civil nuclear power expansion in both countries. 

Specifically, the delegations discussed new bilateral initiatives such as the development of a working group to expand cooperation on biofuels and collaboration on climate modeling for hydroelectricity and integrated energy-water planning.  They agreed to explore efforts to increase adoption and awareness of Brazil’s window glazing rating program and collaboration in industrial energy efficiency management systems and standards.  Technical experts evaluated opportunities for joint work on urban distributed generation, including microgrids, and technical exchange on phasor measuring units, interoperability, and cyber security to improve grid management and function.  The delegations discussed continued cooperation in unconventional gas and decided to include new work on carbon capture and storage under the dialogue.

Guided by the June 30th Joint Communiqué of Presidents Obama and Rousseff, where they encouraged greater cooperation with the private sector in the Strategic Energy Dialogue to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies, the U.S. Department of Energy and Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy emphasized the importance of public-private sector partnerships.  They also discussed financing and investment in clean energy technologies, which will help address global climate change and support each country in bolstering its energy security and economic growth.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Secretary of Energy Sherwood-Randall and Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Luiz Eduardo Barata Ferreira agreed that the Strategic Energy Dialogue is a critical component of the U.S.-Brazil efforts to combat climate change, encourage innovation, and increase energy self-sufficiency at home and globally.  They agreed that the Department of Energy and Ministry of Mines and Energy would, on the one year anniversary of President Rousseff’s 2015 visit, submit a second Report to Leaders on the progress of the Strategic Energy Dialogue and the initiatives of the previous year.  Mr. Barata thanked Dr. Sherwood-Randall for her hospitality and offered to host the next Dialogue in Brasilia, D.F., in 2016.

Maisah Khan
Maisah Khan
Maisah Khan served as a Senior Advisor in the office of the Assistant Secretary in the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy where she assisted in daily operations and communications, performed informational research, and engaged senior staff on critical cross-cutting issues. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Energy, Ms. Khan worked at a strategic consulting firm as a Research Associate. In 2012, Ms. Khan worked as a Deputy Regional Field Director in President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign in Iowa. Maisah Khan holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Conservation Biology and Ecological Sustainability.Maisah Khan served as a Senior Advisor in the office of the Assistant Secretary in the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy where she assisted in daily operations and communications, performed informational research, and engaged senior staff on critical cross-cutting issues. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Energy, Ms. Khan worked at a strategic consulting firm as a Research Associate. In 2012, Ms. Khan worked as a Deputy Regional Field Director in President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign in Iowa. Maisah Khan holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Conservation Biology and Ecological Sustainability.
more by this author