North America commits to 50% clean energy by 2025

During the North American Leaders’ Summit, the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States committed to advance clean energy and integration of energy resources, including renewables, by setting a goal of 50% clean power generation in North America by 2025.

The Summit, which was held in Ottawa on June 29, saw the announcement of the North American Climate, Clean Energy, and Environment Partnership, made by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the United States’ President Barack Obama, and President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto.

As part of the partnership, the leaders revealed the Action Plan which identifies the deliverables to be achieved and activities to be pursued by the three countries.

The leaders stated they would strive to accomplish the goal of 50% clean energy generation through clean energy development and deployment, clean energy innovation and energy efficiency.

They also committed to support the development of cross-border transmission projects, including for renewable electricity, and to conduct a joint study on the opportunities and impacts of adding more renewables to the power grid on a North American basis.

Elisa Obermann from Marine Renewables Canada welcomed the initiative by saying: “This is a positive step towards the creation of a broader international strategy to address policy barriers and increase the export of Canadian renewable electricity, technologies, services and products to markets around the world.”