U.S. - Canada Clean Energy Dialogue

The Clean Energy Dialogue (CED) was established between Canada and the United States in February 2009 to enhance joint collaboration on the development of clean energy science and technologies to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change.

This Dialogue is an important initiative in support of our ongoing efforts towards building a low-carbon economy. The Canada and the United States are both taking steps to combat climate change domestically, and these efforts will be further reinforced by the joint actions of our two countries under the Clean Energy Dialogue.

Action Plan:

To advance the Clean Energy Dialogue, three joint working groups have developed an Action Plan, which outlines a set of recommendations for joint initiatives in the following areas:

• developing and deploying clean energy technologies, with a focus on carbon capture and storage;
• expanding clean energy research and development; and
• building a more efficient electricity grid based on clean and renewable generation. 

Through the initiatives outlined in the Clean Energy Dialogue Action Plan, both countries have identified the most promising opportunities to work together to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies as we move towards a clean energy future.

Report to Leaders:

Environment Minister Jim Prentice and his American counterpart, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, presented their first Report to Leaders on the Clean Energy Dialogue to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama on Sept. 16, 2009. This Report is based on the Action Plan and identifies three projects to be implemented immediately on a priority basis:

• A Canada-U.S. carbon capture and storage collaboration that will involve working towards compatible business and regulatory frameworks, expanding existing collaboration in CO₂ injection and storage testing, and bringing together experts from Canada and the United States to engage on best practices for joint CCS activities.
• To advance smart grid and clean power technologies and help develop government and industry sponsored reliability standards, cyber security, and interoperability guidelines; share government-sponsored electricity research, development and deployment; and identify the potential for and support the development of live storage of electricity across the Canada-U.S. grid.
• A clean energy research, development and deployment collaboration framework and technology roadmap to identify and describe the technology and associated R&D pathways that would allow both countries to meet their respective goals for reducing greenhouse gasses by 2050 and help build a North American market for clean energy technologies.

These projects are considered to be the most promising areas for expanded or new joint projects. However, the Canada and the United States have been moving forward with all of the recommendations outlined in the Action Plan submitted by the joint working groups.

Related documents:

• CED Action Plan
• Report to Leaders
• Joint working group backgrounders(electricity grid, clean energy research and development, carbon capture and storage)
• CED Q&A
• Accelerating economic recovery and job creation - Joint statement by President Barack Obama of the United States of America and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, September 16, 2009
• Canada And The U.S. Work Together On Clean Energy Dialogue, June 30, 2009
• President Obama and Prime Minister Harper vow joint effort on North American economic recovery, February 19, 2009