"Germany and the United States are facing the same energy policy challenges. Both countries have to modernise their energy systems and make them more efficient," noted Katherina Reiche, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, in Berlin on 12 May 2011. "The aim of our energy transformation must be an environmentally sound and affordable energy supply." Ms Reiche said on the occasion of the 3rd German American Energy Conference.
The German American Energy Conference provides a platform for German and US experts from the sustainable energy industry to come together and discuss political and technological approaches. A stronger US commitment in renewable energies opens up important business opportunities in particular for German companies.
The Energy Conference takes place as part of the Federal Government's Transatlantic Climate Bridge initiative. The Climate Bridge initiative is aimed at fostering a stronger cooperation in climate and energy issues on both sides of the Atlantic and at linking up the corresponding energy policy forces. Parliamentary State Secretary Reiche went on to say: "The importance of bilateral relations and strategic alliances with major countries - in particular the United States - plays an increasing role in the international climate policy arena."