IDB Hosts the Fourth Annual Western Hemisphere Energy Security and Cooperation Forum

Members of the U.S. Senate and Congress will join ambassadors from Brazil, Venezuela, Canada and Colombia and Inter-American Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno to discuss energy security and investment opportunities across the hemisphere at a one-day seminar on September 9, 2008.

The Fourth Annual Western Hemisphere Energy Security and Cooperation Forum will feature panels on the challenge of building international energy security in the region, energy choices facing the next U.S. Congress, the role of Latin America’s national oil companies and regional investment trends in energy generation, biofuels and energy efficiency.

Conference speakers will also examine the Latin America’s rapidly evolving energy matrix and the growing importance and potential of gas, coal, nuclear and wind energy.          

Co hosted by the IDB, the Institute of the Americas at the University of California-San Diego and the International Biofuels Commission, the forum will bring together U.S. legislators, senior diplomats, energy analysts, investors and other opinion leaders.

Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) will give the opening keynote speech. Other conference speakers include: IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno, Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, Brazilian Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida), Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson,  Infinity Bio-Energy CEO Sergio Thompson-Flores, Senator Mel Martinez (R-Florida), Colombian Ambassador Carolina Barco and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida).

The IDB will present its newly developed Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard and User’s Guide, an interactive tool that can be used by investors, governments, and NGOs in evaluating potential biofuel projects and addressing environmental and social sustainability issues.

The day-long event will take place at the IDB’s Enrique V. Iglesias Conference Center at 1350 New York Ave, NW September 9, 2008, beginning at 8:15 a.m. Registration will begin at 7:45 a.m., but members of the media can register in advance by calling Mildred Rivera at (202) 623-2319.