Congressional Statements

Pallone seeks implementation of US-India Joint Statement on Energy and the Environment

Press Release
November 5, 1999

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-NJ, today praised the recent signing of a Joint Indo-U.S. Statement of Cooperation in Energy and Related Environmental Aspects, and said he will seek to help implement the agreement through Congressional and federal agency action, and cooperation with private industry. U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and India's Minister for External Affairs, Jaswant Singh, signed this landmark agreement in late October during Secretary Richardson's visit to New Delhi.

Last May, Pallone addressed Indian business leaders regarding the importance of Indo-U.S. cooperation in developing and promoting clean energy technologies and addressing the climate change issue. Congressman Pallone highlighted these issues at the "Indo-U.S. Business Dialogue on the Clean Development Mechanism," hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Katie McGinty, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI). That conference helped pave the way to the signing of the significant agreement on Cooperation in Energy and Related Environmental Aspects.

"I recognize that there are many opportunities for cooperation in the area of clean energy and have been pressing for increased energy cooperation in the U.S. Congress," Pallone said. "We can do more with the CII and other sectors in India to promote economic and energy development in a way that protects the environment and mitigates the emissions that contribute to global climate change.

"Lifting the sanctions against India will also help U.S. companies, such as those in my home state of New Jersey, who want to invest in clean energy and renewable energy technologies in India, among other critical investment needs. Such projects will improve the reliability of the electricity sector and reduce harmful emissions to the atmosphere," Pallone added.

An aide to Pallone spoke on his behalf this summer a signing ceremony at the Indian Embassy in Washington commemorating a joint Indo-U.S. Utility Partnership Program effort in Karnataka. This distribution automation pilot project was conducted by the Duquesne Light Company and the Karnataka Electric Board, under the auspices of the U.S. Energy Association to enhance the reliability of Karnataka's electric utility sector. Pallone said he would work to ensure Congress continues to fund the Utility Partnership Program and related efforts.

"One key provision being developed in international climate change negotiations is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). As Secretary Richardson has emphasized, for India, the CDM is a powerful, market based tool that would provide new investment flows and transfers of new, clean technology, that would help reduce global pollution. The CDM would help India buy cleaner, state-of-the-art technology by adding value to environmentally friendly technologies. The CDM creates a new revenue stream that will help attract foreign investment. I will also help promote the development and transfer of alternative clean energy technologies and technologies that reduce power plant emissions through the CDM," Pallone said.

Rep. Pallone is a senior Member on the House Commerce Energy and Power Subcommittee. In this capacity, he is seeking to pass legislation that would facilitate the development and transfer of clean energy technology. For example, Pallone has introduced the Fair Energy Competition Act of 1999. Included in this legislation are provisions designed to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The U.S. also must be competitive in making these technologies available globally to countries such as India. As the U.S. restructures its utility market, Pallone is seeking to ensure that restructuring does not result in increased atmospheric emissions, and that our utilities are in a position to compete not just in the U.S., but overseas, as well.

"In addition, India already is a global leader in its use of renewable energy technologies, and our two nations have a history of cooperation in this field. Myself and other members of the India Caucus can work with U.S. Companies to ensure continued cooperative efforts in this area.

"I am very pleased to see that Secretary Richardson and Minister Singh have taken this critical step toward cooperation in energy and environmental protection. I think this is a strong indication of further U.S.-India cooperation in an area that is very crucial to all of us," Pallone concluded.