Congressional Statements

U.S. Political Leader Jim McDermott Proposes A Clean Energy Partnership with India

Press Release
April 10, 2008

U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott, a founder and current co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, introduced major new legislation to unite the two great Democracies of India and the United States together in development of new and renewable energy supplies. McDermott’s legislation is called the ``Clean Energy Partnership with India Act, 2008”.

Rep. McDermott has a long and close association with India, having officially visited the country at least 21 times as a political leader. His most recent visit came a few weeks ago when Congressman McDermott joined U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, and other Members of Congress, in a visit and high level meetings with Indian government leaders to discuss clean and renewable energy opportunities.

The Clean Energy Partnership with India Act, 2008, H.R. 5705, would establish a Congressional Commission on Renewable Power Technology Commerce with India to study methods for improving and promoting bilateral renewable energy cooperation with India.

Congressman McDermott said, “This legislation will facilitate renewable energy cooperation and demonstrate that the United States is serious about working with India on energy.”

Significantly, Congressman McDermott’s legislation is co-sponsored by another senior Democratic leader, Congressman Edward J. Markey, Chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Upon introduction, the bill was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for further consideration.

India’s efforts at augmenting nuclear energy notwithstanding, Mr. McDermott is of the view that in a large country like India where a majority of its people still lacks access to energy, the potential for decentralized power grid sources is enormous.

Citing the success story of how India tackled the prohibitively expensive development of a landline telephone infrastructure by moving directly into more modern mobile communication, Mr. McDermott feels a similar move by having decentralized power systems to electrify rural areas will illuminate many more houses.

He feels there is no reason why U.S businesses with their capital cannot effectively combine with abundant Indian technical expertise and research and development skills to bring about an energy revolution, just as the IT industries drew upon Indian tech workers.

McDermott’s legislation identifies renewable energy supply or end-use technology including solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and carbon capture technologies as reliable, affordable and economically viable over its life cycle and compared to similar technology already in commercial use. In addition, the technology is compatible with the needs and norms of a generating plant or end-use technology in India or the United States.

The Congressman believes that by working together the United States and India can take steps that would result in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and result in a substantial reduction in air pollution.

“Our countries have brilliant scientists and engineers,” McDermott said, “and I believe we should unleash the intellectual brain power India and the United States are blessed with to help us combat global warming before it is too late.”

Over the last year, Congressman McDermott has introduced several bills related to India, including:

H.Res. 607: Extending best wishes to the people of India as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of India's independence from the British Empire.

H. Res. 653: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the concept of nonviolence and the teachings of Gandhi remain relevant and instructive in today's world and the United States should take an active role in disseminating the message of nonviolence through education and public awareness.

H.R. 3730: To establish a United States-India interparliamentary exchange group.