WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman will travel to Lisbon, Portugal next week to highlight the countries’ shared commitment to enhancing global energy security and addressing climate change through the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies.  While in Portugal, Secretary Bodman will meet with a number of top-level Portuguese officials, including Minister of Finance Fernando Teixeira dos Santos; Minister for Economy and Innovations Manuel Pinho; and Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Mariano Gago.  In addition to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, Secretary Bodman and his counterparts are expected to discuss ways to enhance collaboration on global port security and climate change research.

“While there is certainly no ‘silver bullet’ that will solve the world’s energy and environmental challenges, we know that renewable energy is an indispensible component of the solution,” Secretary Bodman said.  “I’m quite proud that the United States and Portugal are partners in bringing about a new energy future—one that is cleaner, more sustainable, more affordable, more secure and less reliant on carbon-based fossil fuels.”

On Monday, Secretary Bodman will meet with Minister of Finance Teixeira dos Santos to discuss the countries’ joint efforts to prevent the smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive materials at international seaports.  He will also deliver keynote remarks at Catholic University of Portugal’s renewable energy seminar and will tour a Portuguese solar energy facility.

On Tuesday, Secretary Bodman is expected to meet with Minister for Economy and Innovations Manuel Pinho to discuss ongoing activities and next steps for collaboration on the expansion of alternative and renewable energy.  He will also meet with Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Mariano Gago to review a joint program beginning in March 2009 between Portugal and DOE’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Mobile Facility to improve climate change modeling.  Also on Tuesday, Secretary Bodman will deliver remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce of Portugal where he is expected to highlight the commitment of the U.S. to develop and deploy renewable energy, through the aggressive funding of new technologies and the promotion of policies that enable greater private investment.

This will be Secretary Bodman’s first trip to Portugal since being named Energy Secretary in 2005.

Media contact(s):
Bethany Shively, (202) 586-4940