US Commits to Supporting India’s RE Goals at IACC Summit

In a significant move to strengthen the Indo-US partnership, Jonathan Heimer, Minister Counsellor for Commercial Affairs at the US Foreign Commercial Service, emphasised the United States' dedication to supporting India's ambitious energy transition goals at the 2nd Energy Summit organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC).

Speaking at the summit, Heimer emphasised the myriad opportunities for collaboration between the two nations in the energy sector. During the session titled ‘Climate Change and Decarbonisation of the Indian Economy: Vision 2030,’ Heimer noted that the US has established a significant presence in India due to the substantial opportunities in the energy sector. He highlighted American contributions to India’s clean energy initiatives, including advancements in solar and wind power, energy storage, and grid modernisation.

This involvement aligns with India’s goal to achieve 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, positioning the country as a global leader in clean energy. Carrie Antal, Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Office at USAID, lauded India’s economic growth, which has served as a model for other nations. She detailed USAID’s collaborative efforts with India to promote inclusive and sustainable growth, emphasising joint projects with the Indian private sector to enhance development impact.

Upendra Tripathy, former Secretary of MNRE, spoke on the expansive nature of the energy transition and the importance of bilateral engagements and knowledge sharing. Summit Chairman Sunil Jain underscored the future role of small modular reactors in energy transitions, identifying this as a key area for US-India cooperation. Arun Karna, Regional President of IACC, discussed renewable energy's role in addressing environmental issues while driving economic growth through job creation and innovation.

Dr. Lalit Bhasin, immediate Past National President of IACC, emphasised the need to balance climate change mitigation with the economic development goals of emerging economies like India. The summit also featured insights from other distinguished speakers, including  Manoj K Singh and Dr. Nitin Seth, reinforcing the collaborative efforts between India and the US to tackle climate change effectively.