Privatization, democratic reforms, and other social changes have poised Central America for dramatic economic growth. As these reforms occur, fueling an economic boom, Central American nations have essentially two choices in providing the power needed for economic expansion. Nations can import more fossil fuels in order to provide the thousands of megawatts of needed electrical capacity, or they can opt to develop their own abundant resource base. Central America is now at a crossroads, and the direction they choose to take will have significant impacts on the United States and the rest of the world.

The Achieving Sustainable Growth in Central America workshop explored this important decision facing Central American nations, and examined the current use of clean energy technologies in their near term potential as well as the expansion capabilities of each technology. The workshop included presentations from U.S. renewable industry leaders and a panel which discussed the opportunities for U.S. policymakers to assist Central America in choosing clean energy in the future.

The workshop was held on September 14, 2000, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm in Room 116 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The keynote speaker was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy, Robert Dixon. Industry and policy speakers included Karl Gawell, Executive Director of Geothermal Energy Association; Scott Sklar, Executive Director of Solar Energy Industries Association, Blake McBurney, CEO of McBurney Corporation; Randy Swisher, Executive Director of American Wind Energy Association; Roby Roberts, Renewable Energy Policy Project; and Judy Siegel of Winrock International.

The Achieving Sustainable Growth in Central America workshop was sponsored, in cooperation with Senator Harry Reid, by the Geothermal Energy Association, Solar Energy Industry Association, National BioEnergy Industry Association, American Wind Energy Association, National Hydropower Association, U.S Hydropower Council for International Development, Environmental & Energy Study Institute, U.S. Department of Energy, USAID, and the Global Environmental Facility/ World Bank.