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Germany to Help Provide Clean Energy

Release Date: 07/06/2006
Contact Information: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov (media only); Erin Birgfeld, (202) 343-9079/ birgfeld.erin@epa.gov (technical questions only)

(Washington, D.C. - July 6, 2006) Germany has become the 18th member of the international Methane to Markets Partnership, a Bush Administration initiative that promotes the recovery and use of methane to provide clean energy. Germany has strong experience, technology, and knowledge of advanced waste management practices in landfills, implementing gas pipeline rehabilitation programs in local gas distribution networks, and coal mine methane-based power projects. Germany's participation in the partnership will help reduce methane emissions and promote global energy security.

"The Bush Administration has an unparalleled financial, international and domestic commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Voluntary programs, like EPA's Methane to Markets Partnership, are achieving significant reductions by taking methane waste and turning it into wealth," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By working with Germany to promote advances in clean technology, President Bush is helping turn strong economic partners into good global neighbors."

Joint commitments under Methane to Markets help meet the shared goals of reducing global methane emissions while enhancing economic growth, promoting energy security and improving the environment. By 2015, Methane to Markets has the potential to deliver annual reductions in methane emissions equal to planting 55 million acres of trees or eliminating emissions from 33 million cars in America. The United States has committed $53 million to this initiative over the next five years. Methane is a clean-burning fuel that is the main component of natural gas..

The Methane to Markets Partnership, launched by President Bush in November 2004, is a public-private partnership to advance methane recovery and use projects in four sectors: agriculture, coal mines, landfills and oil and gas systems. Member countries work in collaboration with the private sector, multilateral development banks, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations through the partnership's project network.

More than 300 organizations from around the world have made commitments to this partnership. In addition to Germany, countries participating in Methane to Markets include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

General information about Methane to Markets Partnership: epa.gov/methanetomarkets