WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environment Canada released the U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue (CED) Action Plan II, outlining the next phase of activities the two countries will undertake to jointly advance clean energy technologies.

The new action plan renews the commitment between the United States and Canada to work together on carbon capture and storage technologies; build more efficient, clean, “smart” electrical grids; and advance clean energy research and development. Action Plan II also places a greater emphasis on energy efficiency to take advantage of the approaches and tools in each country to help facilitate the uptake of energy efficient technologies and practices.

“This plan is ambitious and demonstrates our continued commitment to international collaboration to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and ensure that both of our nations benefit from the tremendous opportunities in clean energy,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “The United States and Canada are working together to continue to address technology gaps to support the development and deployment of new clean energy technologies into the marketplace.”

The accomplishments to date under the CED include completing the final phase of the Weyburn-Midale Carbon Dioxide Monitoring and Storage Project, as well as the North American Carbon Storage Atlas. The final phase of the Weyburn Project focuses on best practices for the safe and permanent storage of carbon dioxide used in enhanced oil recovery. The Atlas is the first-ever to map the potential carbon dioxide (CO2) storage capacity in North America.

Ongoing and new initiatives under Action Plan II will include projects to enhance collaboration to ensure the integrity of permanent CO2 storage in geological formations, an initiative to clarify U.S. and Canadian regulatory authorities for deployment of offshore renewable energy and technologies, and further investigating the potential of power storage technologies.

The CED was established in 2009 by President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to encourage the development of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change in both countries.

The Clean Energy Dialogue Action Plan II is available HERE.