Michelle Bachelet will make the trip I know too well from Chile to Washington, DC to meet with President Obama this Tuesday, June 23rd.  Although she will have a direct flight and will not be seated in coach on a Lan or an American Airlines vessel, President Bachelet will be preparing to discuss the same issues- renewable energy and climate change- that I do when I go to Chile.  

President Obama invited President Michelle Bachelet to Washington in April during the 5th Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago held after Bachelet called for the need to invest in green technology and Obama himself called for partnerships on sustainable energy.  During this visit, the two Presidents will continue to discuss these issues in addition to climate change and economic development.  

This week's meetings come at a critical moment in Chile's energy development.  Over the last three years, there has been a major controversy over plans to build a massive hydroelectric scheme in Patagonia.  There are plans for several new coal plants; and there is a push to develop nuclear power.  Yet Chile has huge potential for, and increasing interest in, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources to meet its energy needs.  Chile is already experiencing accelerating melting of glaciers and other effects of climate change with serious implications for its energy choices.

Cooperation with the United States could help Chile move towards a more sustainable energy future.  Upon declaring the Chilean Patagonia as a BioGem, NRDC has been working with Chilean non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and the government to analyze all of Chile's energy options.  Much progress has been made over the past few years to spark an open debate about energy policies and take a hard look at whether or not large hydroelectric projects are truly necessary to supply Chile's energy demands.  At this point, a more formal collaboration with the US government would be extremely valuable.  Such a partnership should focus on reviewing various energy options, building policy, regulatory, and technical capacities, and making available clean technology options.  The United States should work with the Chilean government to develop an energy policy that emphasizes efficiency and cleaner, renewable sources of power. 

An alliance between the United States and Chile around these areas could serve as a model for sustainable energy partnerships with other Latin American countries as well.