Earlier this week, Vice President Biden hosted the Caribbean Energy Summit at the State Department. He said to leaders and stakeholders from across the region:

 “We’re in the midst of a seismic shift in the global economy:  the ascendancy of the Americas as the epicenter of energy production in the world.  We have more oil and gas rigs running in the United States, than all the rest of the world combined.  Mexico, Canada and the United States is the new epicenter of energy — not the Arabian Peninsula.  It is the new epicenter of energy in the 21st century.

 An integrated North America, working to promote energy security beyond our borders can be a major asset for the entire hemisphere.  And it’s profoundly in the self-interest of the United States to see the Caribbean countries succeed as prosperous, secure, energy-independent neighbors.”

I was there. It was an excellent speech that hit on the threats of energy dependence to countries in the region (he didn’t name Venezuala as the source of that dependence, but it was a clear undertone), the opportunity to use the American energy revolution to help the islands break that dependence, the economic cost of high (and variable) fuel prices, and the opportunity that new technology offers to island economies. Go read the whole speech. The joint statement from all participants is also worth reading.

As a follow-up to the Vice President’s Caribbean Energy Security Summit, the American Security Project will host a conference on February 4, “Energy Security in the Caribbean: Unique Challenges” that will examine the islands of the Caribbean face the problems of energy insecurity, affordability, and availability. Uniquely, the islands in the Caribbean have few indigenous fossil fuel resources, so virtually all of their energy needs are met by imported fuel oil, the price of which can make or break the government’s budget.

This conference will examine the complicated overlap of geopolitics and economics in the Caribbean, and, in light of recent events, it will look at how energy issues will (or won’t) impact the warming relations between Cuba and the US.

We are excited to have a distinguished group of speakers, ranging from academia to the US Government, International Financial Institutions to private philanthropic foundations, from private Caribbean companies to representatives of Caribbean governments. Don’t miss this opportunity. RSVP TODAY.

This event is generously supported by Tropigas. 

Share on Facebook

Tweet