India-U.S. Renewable Energy Cooperation Unaffected by Trump Administration
A high-ranking official from the Obama administration has stated that the change in the U.S. administration will not impact India-U.S. cooperation in renewable energy. Amos J. Hochstein, Special Envoy for Energy Resources at the Department of State, explained that coal is being phased out by power manufacturers due to advancements in technology, not government regulations. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to revive coal mining in the U.S. and leave the Paris climate agreement, but this will not happen. Coal will remain a significant part of India’s energy mix, regardless of who is in power.
India’s target of 175 GW of renewable energy was set by Prime Minister Modi, not President Obama. This target will remain unchanged. Hochstein also noted that people are not using coal not only because of climate concerns but also because of the same reasons they no longer use VCRs.
Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, emphasized that India-U.S. relations should move beyond government-to-government interactions to be more global and local. She highlighted the diversity of experiences and models in both countries, suggesting that India-U.S. relations should be more nuanced and inclusive.
Reference : https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/%E2%80%98India-U.S.-clean-energy-cooperation-will-go-on%E2%80%99/article16668979.ece
