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International Partnership Yields Economic and Environmental Benefits

Release Date: 11/07/2006
Contact Information: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 /[email protected]

(Washington, D.C. - Nov. 7, 2006) Last year, the U.S. contributed more than $5 million to an international program to recover and use methane as a clean energy source. That investment has leveraged over $235 million in public and private sector contributions through the Methane to Markets Partnership, according to a new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Once these methane projects are fully implemented, they are expected to garner annual greenhouse reductions of nearly 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, while providing enough electricity to power the equivalent of 800,000 U.S. homes, here and around the world.

"As good global neighbors, America is working with our international partners to reduce our climate footprints in aggressive yet practical ways," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Under the Bush Administration's unprecedented financial, domestic and international commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Methane to Markets Partnership is delivering environmental and economic results by converting waste into wealth."

The U.S. Government Accomplishments in Support of the Methane to Markets Partnership chronicles U.S. contributions toward advancing methane recovery and use projects throughout the world. The report was developed collaboratively by EPA, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

The report summarizes the contributions of these government agencies and profiles methane capture and use projects around the world – and supported by the U.S. government – that address the challenges of clean development and climate change, such as:

• The world's largest power generation project fueled by coal mine methane in Jincheng, China
• New compressor station technology in Ukraine in the oil and gas sector
• Landfill gas to energy projects in Latin America
• Livestock waste management technologies in East Asia