US-India Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation Legislation Introduced

Senator Menendez (D-NJ), a Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has introduced the ‘Prioritising Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act of 2020’.

Senator Bob Menendez (District of New Jersey), a Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has introduced the ‘Prioritising Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act of 2020’. The legislation follows a Congressional Delegation to India in the fall of 2019, during which Senator Menendez engaged with India’s Minister of New and Renewable Energy RK Singh and Indian business leaders to discuss how the US and India can address the threat of climate change and deepen their cooperation on clean energy production.

The legislation established the United States-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership (CEPTP) as the main forum for cooperation between the U.S. and India on clean energy technologies and energy transmission. CEPTP activities include promoting joint research and development on clean energy technologies, encouraging US private investment in the Indian clean energy market, and supporting initiatives to develop new renewable energy generation capacity in India. The Act also promotes US-India cooperation on climate resilience and risk reduction.

“Given the shared threat of climate change and India’s growing need for electricity, there is a strong case to be made for strengthening the U.S.-India clean energy partnership,” said Senator Menendez. 

“In that vein, I am introducing this legislation having witnessed firsthand the positive results that come when our nations work as a team to tackle common challenges. By establishing the US-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership, we are laying the groundwork for successful partnerships between not only the US and Indian governments, but also our universities and private sectors. I am proud to lead this effort to further strengthen our relationship with India.”

Key provisions of the legislation include:

• Establishes the United States-India CEPTP as the main forum and funding mechanism for cooperation between the US and India on clean energy technologies and energy transmission
• Promotes partnerships between US and Indian universities and government research laboratories on the research, development, and application of clean energy technologies
• Promotes lawful sharing of intellectual property between US and Indian private sector entities for renewable energy technology, air conditioning technology, and refrigeration systems technology
• Encourages US private investment in the Indian clean energy technology market
• Supports the provision of technical assistance and expertise on electricity grid and energy efficiency improvements in India
• Supports initiatives to develop new renewable energy generation capacity in India
• Requires the Administration to submit a multi-year strategy to Congress for implementing the CEPTP

The act will also look at furthers supporting the US-India Cooperation on Climate and Clean Energy by prioritising increased engagement and cooperation with the Government of India, the Indian diaspora community in the US, and the private sector and civil society in both countries on clean energy, electricity generation, and climate security issues.

It will also look to establish advancing climate risk reduction and resilience capacities as a priority for the US’s diplomatic, security, and development work in India.

To view the ‘Prioritising Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act of 2020’ click here.

(updated)