OBO AND Solar Energy Project At U.S. Mission Geneva
Selected as Finalist for Three Platts Global Energy Awards

Geneva, November 28, 2006

The United States Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, the State Department’s Office of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) and the Public/Private Partnership of the U.S. Mission, the Services Industriels de Genève (SIG), and the Canton of Geneva are finalists in three categories for the 8th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards for the innovative private-public sector solar energy project at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

On July 5, 2005, the U.S. Mission became the first U.S. diplomatic post to implement a building-integrated solar power system, the result of the largest and most ambitious photovoltaic project ever undertaken by the U.S. government overseas.

The Platts Global Energy Awards were established in 1999 as a way to recognize “outstanding achievement and vision in the global energy industry.” A panel of international judges -- including former energy ministers, former heads of major energy companies, leading academics -- reviews over 200 entries each year. The winners of the 2006 awards will be announced in New York on November 30.

The U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Buildings Operations and the U.S. Mission Solar Energy Project are among the finalists in the following three categories:

• Emissions Energy Project of the Year – This award is “about integrating commitment to sustainable energy and emissions control into a company’s business model,” and making investment in emissions reductions as “part of a sustainable business strategy.” The Geneva Solar Energy Public Private/Partnership was nominated and is a finalist.  This nomination is for the international energy cooperation among which brought together the following public and private sector partners. 1) Department of State, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations   2) United States Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva  3) Services Industriels de Genève (SIG), and 4) the Energy Service of the Canton of Geneva (ScanE).  This unique public-private partnership, planned, funded, designed, constructed and operates the US Mission to the UN Geneva, photovoltaic plant.
  
  
• Energy Pioneer Award – This award “singles out investors who make possible what common wisdom says is impossible.” OBO's Director Williams was nominated by a member of U.S. Congress for the innovations of OBO Energy Program especially the Geneva photovoltaic installation, OBO's flagship project.
  
  
• ENR / McGraw-Hill Construction Energy Construction Project of the Year – which recognizes “excellence in project execution and management” and “true innovation in its approach to project delivery, engineering and all-round excellence in implementation.” OBO and the US Mission were nominated for the project's: 1)  Innovation, 2) Project Delivery Methods,  3) Project Management,  4) Excellence in Design,  5) Environmental Care,  5) Interoperability/Collaboration,  6) Safety record,  and  7) Logistics.

“We envisioned the project in Geneva as a model for United States diplomatic posts worldwide and part of our concerted strategy to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency,” said Charles E. Williams, Director of the Office of Overseas Building Operations. “We are deeply gratified that not only our colleagues within the U.S. government, but also leaders in the private sector and industry, have found elements in it that inspire them.”

Two American firms collaborated on the design in which attractive crystalline-blue photovoltaic arrays were mounted over the six story building’s façade and roof creating a 950 square meter solar energy system with a peak power of up to 118 kilowatts. Five companies in the U.S. supplied components for the project, and a consortium of three Swiss companies carried out the construction.

The energy generated by the system is fed into Geneva’s electrical power grid. On an average summer day, the electricity generated by the photovoltaic installation prevents 360 kg (800 lbs) of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO 2) from being emitted into the environment. Over the course of the expected 30-year life of the system, this will amount to a total savings of approximately 1,800 metric tons (1,960 tons) of CO 2 .

“There is no better international venue than Geneva to showcase US technology, engineering and product innovation in the use of renewable energy,” said Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva. “The U.S. Mission is the site of hundreds of international meetings every year, hosting events for diplomats, government officials, non-governmental agencies, academics and scientists from around the world.”

Photos and additional information about the project are available on the website of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva: http://geneva.usmission.gov.