New U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said two importantitems he would be pursuing in his visits last week to Venezuela andMexico would be the hemispheric integration of energy policy andthe possibility of a common electric grid. He added it is highlysignificant and symbolic that this first official call on foreigngovernments as Energy Department head will be to the two LatinAmerican nations most important to U.S. energy interests.

Richardson, briefing U.S. and foreign press in both English andSpanish before his departure last Monday, said this first visitwill encompass a broad dialogue. Responding to questions aboutspecific petroleum issues with the two nations, Richardson said “wewant to see transparency and privatization around theworld….We’re in favor of fair and open competition and a fairshot for our companies.”

But he also indicated he was aware of the sensitivity of some ofthe issues in the politics of each nation and did not want toappear to be interfering in their internal government affairs. “Iknow Mexico. I have dealt with Mexico on a host of politicalissues over the years, I know that one thing you don’t do withMexico is try to dictate or make strong suggestions. I don’t wantto complicate matters for Secretary Tellez with any statementswhere I suggest a course of action that Mexico might beconsidering.”

Regarding the possibility for U.S. investment in natural gasproduction in Mexico, Richardson said he believed NAFTA had workedvery well in the natural gas sector. “I’m not coming with anydemands.” He said he knew U.S. companies were interested in Mexicanresources, but “I don’t have any specific initiatives in thatarea,” reminding that it is “my first official visit.”There willbe no company representatives accompanying the new secretary.

Richardson said he wants to work closely with Mexico on climatechange issues. On the agenda are cooperation in energy efficiency,renewable energy and clean power technologies.

Meanwhile, as the new secretary was hemisphere-trotting, DOEissued a list of 20 new appointments he has made at the agency,which are in addition to the seven already announced in his sixweeks on the job.

Last week’s appointments include David Goldwyn, counselor to thesecretary; LeeAnn Inadomi, deputy chief of staff for administrationand domestic policy; Rebecca Gaghen, deputy chief of staff forinternational policy; Calvin Humphrey, principal deputy assistantsecretary, Office of Policy and International Affairs; SarahSummerville, deputy director for small and disadvantaged businessutilization; Stu Nagurka, deputy director, Office of PublicAffairs; Isabelle Watkins, senior advisor for scheduling andadvance. Previously Richardson had announced the appointments ofGary Falle, chief of staff; Melanie Kenderdine, senior policyadvisor for oil and gas issues; Richard Farrell, director of humanresources and administration; Lawrence H. Sanchez, director of theOffice of Intelligence; Dan Adamson, deputy assistant secretary forutility technologies, Office of Energy Efficiency and RenewableEnergy; Roger M. Gallagher, special executive advisor to theassistant secretary for fossil energy; and John M. Gilligan, chiefinformation officer.

It may take even more than those, however, to keep up withRichardson, who so far has been the most active DOE leaderWashington has seen in at least the last 15 years. The question iswhether to believe the rumors that he will be angling for a vicepresidency in next year’s national election.

Ellen Beswick

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