Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that the U.S. hopes to aid development of natural gas from shale formations in other western hemisphere countries even as she acknowledged environmental concerns about the resource.

“The United States will promote the use of shale gas. I know in some places that is controversial,” Clinton said. She spoke at the Energy and Climate Ministerial of the Americas, a two-day meeting of energy ministers hosted by the U.S., the Inter-American Development Bank and the Organization of American States.

The oil-and-gas industry’s increasing ability to tap gas trapped in shale rock formations has helped boost U.S. supplies, but environmentalists and some lawmakers fear that drilling methods that break through the formations will contaminate water supplies.

Clinton called natural gas an available source of cleaner electric power. Natural gas emits fewer greenhouse gases and other pollutants when burned than oil or coal. She said the U.S. Geological Survey is ready to work with other countries.

Clinton also said that “we want to do it in a way that is as environmentally respectful as possible,” noting there are opportunities to ensure safeguards as countries develop regulations and laws around shale gas development.

The shale gas effort is one of a half-dozen energy initiatives Clinton announced in a speech that linked development of cleaner energy sources to alleviating poverty in the western hemisphere.

Clinton also said the U.S. will train Peace Corps volunteers to help communities they’re working in develop renewable energy. Other efforts include working to replace use of open-fire cooking stoves – which emit high amounts of greenhouse gases and create health problems – with low-cost alternatives.

Clinton also said the U.S. will work to develop sustainable energy sources in Caribbean nations that currently rely heavily on imported energy.

The U.S. is seeking to bolster work on alternative energy through the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas that President Barack Obama launched last year.