Leaders of the US biomass, geothermal and hydropower industries have urged Secretary of State John Kerry to support a "pan-renewable technologies approach at COP-21." In a joint letter, the National Hydropower Association, Biomass Power Association and Geothermal Energy Association noted that these three technologies provide 86% of the world's renewable power today and are expected to grow in the coming decades.
“As baseload renewable power technologies, our industries are particularly critical to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and we encourage Secretary Kerry to recognise the contributions our industries are making to fight climate change," said Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director of the National Hydropower Association.
“We are asking for a US approach that recognises hydropower, biomass power and geothermal power are also important contributors to avoiding fossil fuel emissions today, and will be important contributors to meeting future climate goals," Karl Gawell, Executive Director of the Geothermal Energy Association, added.
Policies must also address grid modernisation, the groups stressed. Power grids will continue to be a vital means for electricity delivery and enhancing the grid and grid-connected technologies is important, the letter explained.
COP21 is the annual meeting of all countries who want to take action for climate change. This year's event will be held in Le Bourget, France from 30 November to 11 December 2015.
