Energy cooperation between the U.S. and India promotes sustainable growth, harnesses sources to meet the power needs of the 21st century, preserves public safety and encourages regional and global stability, a senior government official said.
State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters the two countries are collaborating on crude oil, renewables, nuclear energy, clean coal technology, smart grids, and alternative and clean energy sources study to benefit the citizens of the U.S. and India.
“When it comes to energy cooperation more broadly, I would say that the US, India energy partnership supports sustainable energy development, it harnesses energy sources to meet 21st-century power needs, it protects national security and promotes regional and international stability,” Price stated.
When a reporter asked him about the cooperation, Price commented the strategic energy partnership is stable and will continue to grow even as the administration prioritises climate change concerns.
India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has recently described the energy sector as one of the ‘five baskets’ of India-US collaboration.
The five baskets cover healthcare and pharmaceutical cooperation and COVID-19 strategic planning, including affordable medicines and vaccines. It also includes a virtual environment, including information technologies, innovation and start-ups; energy, including LNG, renewables and solar, to combat climate change; education and knowledge partnerships; and strategic and default cooperation.
Sandhu said in a recent op-ed in Newsweek magazine that India remains committed to the Paris climate agreement’s objectives and accepts U.S. return to the agreement.
“Here again India has demonstrated leadership, creating the International Solar Alliance, while being on track to surpass our voluntary commitments under the Paris Accord. Our solar energy production will reach 450GW by 2030, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30-35 per cent by that year (from 2005 levels),” he wrote.
Sandhu said India and the U.S. are already working under the same Strategic Energy Partnership on renewable energy.
“We can build on these gains and accelerate a green transformation through effective technology transfers, financing and an equity-based approach that will increase access to renewable energy for a wider population, which in turn will create global low-carbon pathways, green jobs and achieve shared climate goals.
“Such an approach will also ensure that India’s growth trajectory, critical to the economic empowerment of millions, will be sustained and sustainable,” Sandhu wrote.