Organizers of the Eilat-Eilot International Renewable Energy Conference hope that US-Israeli energy cooperation legislation will become a reality at the conference.
The conference announced today that the US-Israel Energy Cooperation Act, passed two years ago by the US Congress, could launch at the upcoming Eilat-Eilot energy conference, to be held from February 17-19 in Eilat, Israel.
The cooperation act will create a $20 million grant program administered by the US Department of Energy to fund eligible joint ventures between US and Israeli businesses and academic figures, will establish an International Energy Advisory Board, and for other purposes. The act was passed in the US Congress but has not yet actually been launched.
The Eilat-Eilot Conference focuses on innovations in renewable energy.
“The Ministry of National Infrastructures views with high import the development of the Eilat-Eilot Region as a center of renewable energy solutions, and we not only fully support them in this pursuit, but we ourselves are very involved in advancing their initiatives,” said Ministry of National Infrastructures director general Hezi Kugler, adding, “The conference is an important step towards developing the alternative energy capabilities of this region, and will certainly push us forward in becoming an alternative energy world leader.”
The conference will also feature the unveiling of plans for the Timna Renewable Energy Park, the centerpiece of the Eilat-Eilot region’s efforts to turn Southern Israel into the “Silicon Valley” of renewable energy. It will feature technologies from companies around the world, with planned projects to include a combined wind/solar "farm"; a solar thermal power plant; a solarized turbine pilot plant and the production of biogas from municipal waste.
Participating Israeli solar companies, including the Arava Power Company (APC), Solar Power Israel and Sunday Solar Energy, intend on using the conference to launch their next phases of growth.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 24, 2008
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