US assists India's clean energy devt with $20M programme

The US will help in India's transition to a high performing, low emissions and energy secure economy with $20 million clean energy deployment programme.

PACE-D. to be implemented in five years, will work to create an environment that strengthens institutions, increases the availability of innovative financing mechanisms and enhances local capacity to propagate clean energy solutions, said US Ambassador to India Nancy J. Powell while announcing the launch of the Indo-US Partnership to Advance Clean Energy - Deployment (PACE-D).

The programme is an outcome of bilateral energy dialogue created by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009 and will help to improve energy efficiency, increase the supply of renewable energy and adopt and accelerate deployment of cleaner fossil fuel technology.is an outcome of bilateral energy dialogue created by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009 and will help to improve energy efficiency, increase the supply of renewable energy and adopt and accelerate deployment of cleaner fossil fuel technology.

It will also improve access to energy through renewable sources and will assist India promote grid connected renewable energy, expand rural electrification through micro grids and develop off-grid applications, such as those for fossil fuel replacement, lighting and rooftop systems.

The Ambassador said PACE-D has an "ambitious agenda" as it will also improve access to renewable energy by engaging various state and local governments. "This decentralized engagement will increase access to financing, develop sustainable business models and improve access to renewable energy," she said.

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