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Dear Mr. Richardson,

RE: Electric Power Integration of Latin America -- Hemispheric Energy Ministers Conference

In Miami in 1994, the Summit of the Americas convened to foster sustainable economic growth, increased trade and poverty alleviation. One key element of that commitment was to cooperate on the common goal of creating efficient, environmentally sound and secure energy markets.

One of those goals included the electrical integration of power networks between countries. Mercosur and the Central American nations are progressing with regional power grids, and most nations have bilateral energy links. The trend is positive -- yet the benefits of electrical transmission integration remain unrealized to their highest potential:

• load sharing between utilities
• emergency back-up power
• peak power saving through daytime power exchange
• deferral of additional capacity reqirements
• increased system reliability
• improved frequency and voltage control for operators
• ability to retire older and ecologically unsound generation capacity
• increased trade between countries

Enclosures:

• GENI Newsletter, 2nd Quarter 1999 -- "Linking Electricity for Peace"
• IEEE Power Engineering Review: "Latin America Power Policy Reforms"
• Western Hemispheric Statistics: "Energy Consumption vs. Quality of Life indicators"
• ENERLAC Paper: "Economic, Environmental and Developmental Benefits of High-Voltage Interconnections between South and North America via Central America and the Caribbean"
• The GENI Initiative with Endorsements translated into Spanish (4 pages)