A senior Bush administration official sounded the call at the opening of the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, or WIREC 2008, which gathered representatives from more than 10 governments, corporations and non-governmental organizations.

"Renewable energies will alleviate some of the most pressing energy security dilemmas faced by many nations," Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said at the opening of the three-day conference.

Solar power, wind and biofuels will "open up new frontiers" for production, accelerate economic growth and benefit the developing world "with no negative impact on the environment," he said.

"This is why it is imperative to bring to the markets new energy technologies that diminish our dependence on fossil fuels."

President George W. Bush was expected on Wednesday to address WIREC, which was organized by the US government and sponsored by industry leaders including British Petroleum, General Electric, Chevron and General Motors.

The inaugural renewable energy conference was launched through Germany's initiative and held in Bonn in 2004, and followed up in Beijing in 2005.

Even as the Bush administration signaled support for expanded renewable energy use and production, it remains adamantly opposed to any forced reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for fear of crippling effects on the US economy.

Negroponte said Washington was urging governments and business leaders to make a "voluntary pledge" to boost the share of renewable energies in the world.

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