Can work together with India to build sustainable future, says US

Washington: The "enhanced strategic partnership" announced by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a major development in the collaboration between the two countries in energy and sustainable development, the US has said.

"Our partnership is robust, reliable, enduring and expanding. We can together build a clean sustainable future that President Obama and Prime Minister Modi are committed to," US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said in his address to the 5th US-India Energy Partnership Summit organised here by The Energy Research Institute (TERI) in association with Yale University.

Highly appreciate of the steps being taken by Modi in this area, Moniz said the Prime Minister "is providing a new momentum".

In the area of finding low-carbon energy solutions for India's ambitious plans, Moniz said nuclear energy is an area where we need to step up collaboration.

Moniz pointed out four areas "we have a strong base to build on" namely, new US-India Smart Cities collaboration, new multi-billion-dollar effort to support renewable energy, US-India partnership for climate resilience and training students and scholars in US-India exchange programme.

The two-day summit, organised by TERI North America brought experts from the fields of energy, finance, policy, technology, climate change and environment, who deliberated on collaborations between the US and India.

USAID Administrator, Rajiv Shah, spoke of Modi's meeting with Obama and their commitment to working jointly.

"This cooperation represents a new opportunity for business, partnerships and investment for both the US and for India," he said.

Referring to the progress on projects in India, Shah said, "We want to nurture innovations and share innovations in India and across the world".

Leocadia Zak, Director, US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), emphasised the role of the private sector.

"To be able to accomplish our goals, it's not just about governments, it's about the private sector, it's about the people," she said.

"What we are doing can have mutual benefit," she said adding that technology grid is an area for significant focus.

She cited a programme involving the setting up of a roadmap for Tata Energy to reduce electric grid transmission losses which has and seen tremendous results.

R K Pachauri, President, TERI North America and Director General, TERI, said, "For the first time there is optimism and an upbeat attitude towards renewable energy in India".

He spoke of prospects of a breakthrough and said that the summit discussions had developed several ideas to help implement the goals of the "new and enhanced strategic partnership on energy security, clean energy, and climate change" announced by the leaders of the US and India.