Photos: Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC)

As part of the Administration’s commitment to combating climate change and developing new sources of renewable energy, the U.S. Government is hosting the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008), March 4 to 6, 2008,at the Washington D.C. Convention Center. Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Under Secretary Paula Dobrianksy will be guest speakers at this event. (State Dept. photos) WIREC Website l Fact Sheet

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Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte delivers opening remarks entitled "The Challenge and Charge to the Attendees."	Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, gives the welcome and introductory remarks at the opening of the WIREC 2008 ministerial.	The WIREC 2008 Trade Show is being held in conjunction with the WIREC 2008 ministerial meeting. Over 3,000 people registered to attend the trade show alone.	WIREC 2008 opened on March 4 with over 100 countries represented at this ministerial meeting.
United States Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman delivers remarks at the ministerial level plenary session entiteld "Current Trends and Issues: Renewable Energy" at WIREC 2008.	President George W. Bush addressed the ministerial level meeting at WIREC 2008, praising U.S. renewable energy efforts.	Claudia A. McMurray, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science faciliated a ministerial interactive section at WIREC 2008. The session was co-chaired by Steven Johnson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, and Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner, European Union.	Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner, European Union, spoke about EU renewable activities during an interactive session at WIREC 2008.
Tomaz Jersic, Secretary of State for Slovenia's Ministry of the Economy highlighted the importance of cooperative efforts on renewable energy during an interactive session led by Claudia McMurray, Assistant Secretary of State during WIREC 2008.	Dr. Kirit Parikh, Member of India's Planning Commission spoke of benefits and challenges to the rapid up-scale of renewable energy during an interactive session at WIREC 2008.	Claudia A. McMurray gave opening remarks at a Ministerial-level interactive session at WIREC 2008.	Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner, European Union, and Steven Johnson, Administrator, EPA, signed an Accession Protocol to the Methane to Markets Partnership.
Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner, European Union, Steve Johnson, Administrator, EPA, and Claudia A. McMurray, Assistant Secretary of State, Department of State, participate in a press conference announcing the EU accession to the Methane to Markets Partnership.