US, Israel sign energy, water agreement

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2016 - The U.S. and Israel have amended an existing agreement that enhances cooperation between the two countries on developing advanced energy and water technologies.

The accord was signed by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources.

DOE says the agreement recognizes the importance of developing advanced energy and water technologies to secure water and power supplies, while protecting the environment and increasing energy efficiency within the two countries.

The agreement expands cooperative efforts for exploration, production and distribution technologies for fossil and alternative fuels; research and development for natural gas transmission and distribution and smart grid technologies; water desalination and treatment facilities, and physical and cyber protection of energy and water infrastructure.

“I am certain that cooperation in the energy sector will expand in the years to come,” Steinitz said. “I thank Secretary Moniz for the friendship and cooperation. The United States is Israel’s greatest friend and we appreciate this friendship.”

The agreement follows legislation and support from the energy departments of both countries to continue funding programs implemented by the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation and Israel-US Binational Science Foundation (BSF) through 2024. The agreement also encourages collaboration between Israeli energy researchers and DOE National Laboratories.

“Today, our nations further solidified our ongoing cooperation,” Moniz said. “The U.S. and Israel will continue to foster research and development, drive down the costs of clean energy technologies and encourage collaboration between our nations' top energy scientists.”

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