U.S., Mexico to Cooperate on Capture and Use of Methane

Release date: 03/22/2006

Contact Information: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - March 22, 2006) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources will sign a letter of cooperation as part of the Methane to Markets Partnership to advance the capture and beneficial use of methane, a greenhouse gas, as a clean energy source in Mexico.

EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock, USAID Acting Administrator Frederick Schieck, and Mexico's Secretary of Environment José Luis Luege will participate in the signing.

The United States and Mexico are two of the 17 countries currently participating in the Methane to Markets Partnership, an international initiative launched in November 2004 to advance cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a source of clean energy. Methane is a clean-burning fuel that is the main component of natural gas.

WHAT: Signing of Letter of Cooperation

WHEN: Friday, March 24, 2006
9:30 a.m.

WHO: EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock
USAID Acting Administrator Frederick Schieck
Mexico's Secretary of Environment José Luis Luege

WHERE: The US Agency for International Development
The Ronald Reagan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C.