"Tom Weirich is clearly ACORE's ‘Ambassador' at home and aboard"

WASHINGTON, DC May 5, 2014—The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) announced today that Tom Weirich has been appointed by U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman, to the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC) of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), an advisory and honorary role. Weirich will continue to serve at ACORE as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations.

"I am extremely proud and pleased about Tom Weirich's appointment to the Trade and Environment Policy Committee," said ACORE President and CEO, Michael Brower. "Tom Weirich is clearly ACORE's ‘Ambassador' at home and aboard. As ACORE continues its important work supporting and encouraging the scale-up and deployment of clean, renewable energy both here in the U.S., and increasingly abroad, Tom's skill, diplomacy and empathy will materially help expand TEPAC's and ACORE's capability to put the right people--and countries—together to build a more sustainable, prosperous and secure future powered by renewable energy."

The Committee, whose term began in September, 2013, provides the U.S. Trade Representative with policy advice on issues involving trade and the environment. TEPAC is part of the trade advisory committee system, established by the Congress under the Trade Act of 1974. The advisory committee system was created to ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives adequately reflect U.S. interests.

"I am honored to be asked to advise USTR in the exploration of complex issues America faces at the intersection of trade and environmental policies," said Weirich. "TEPAC has made great strides in the past ensuring strong environmental provisions in the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement and U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. I look forward to representing ACORE and renewable energy on the Committee, and to increasing global trade while preserving the environment, something that is critically important to U.S. trade policy globally."

In his role as ACORE's Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations, Weirich has established effective relationships with international trade commissions and multilateral organizations and international associations on behalf of ACORE, speaking on, and promoting, international import and export of U.S. renewable energy products to Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific Region.

ACORE's International Programs are based on the philosophy that one of the best ways to advance clean, renewable energy, both in the U.S. and worldwide, is by exchanging knowledge and identifying opportunities in this field among businesses, governments, and other organizations throughout the globe. In 2014, the International Programs are focused on the Latin America and Caribbean region, and the countries of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Korea, South Africa, UAE and the UK.

From 2010 to 2012, Weirich was appointed by Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke, to be Vice Chair of the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee, assisting the Secretary and Administration achieve its goal of doubling renewable energy exports by 2015, targeting $10 billion or more in annual export benefits. From 2011-2014, Weirich was appointed North American Chairperson for the World Council on Renewable Energy (WCRE).

About ACORE:
ACORE, a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization, is dedicated to building a secure and prosperous America with clean, renewable energy. ACORE seeks to advance renewable energy through finance, policy, technology, and market development and is concentrating its member focus in 2014 on National Defense & Security, Power Generation & Infrastructure, and Transportation. Additional information is available at www.acore.org.