LISBON, PORTUGAL - U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and Portuguese Economy Minister Manuel Pinho today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), as part of their shared commitment to enhancing global energy security and addressing climate change through the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies.  The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration on the policy, and scientific and technical aspects of wave energy generation.  Secretary Bodman is in Lisbon this week to highlight U.S.-Portugal energy cooperation.

“While there is certainly no ‘silver bullet’ that will solve the world’s energy and environmental challenges today, we know that renewable energy is an indispensible component of the solution,” Secretary Bodman said.  “I look forward to working closely with my counterparts in Portugal on the development of wave energy, which will further our common goals of decreasing reliance on carbon-based fossil fuels, and reaching a more sustainable, affordable, and secure energy future.”

The MOU outlines specific areas of cooperation in wave energy technologies, including the exchange of technical personnel; evaluations of demonstration projects; and environmental testing and modeling.  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invited representatives of the Portuguese Government to visit DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO, to explore further opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Also today, Secretary Bodman met 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.  The Secretary delivered remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce of Portugal highlighting 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.  Secretary Bodman concluded his day by meeting Environment Secretary of State Humberto Rosa and discussed the global challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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