[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4759 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4759
To establish the United States-India Clean Energy and Power
Transmission Partnership to facilitate renewable energy cooperation
with India, to enhance cooperation with India on climate resilience and
adaptation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 30 (legislative day, September 29), 2020
Mr. Menendez introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the United States-India Clean Energy and Power
Transmission Partnership to facilitate renewable energy cooperation
with India, to enhance cooperation with India on climate resilience and
adaptation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Prioritizing Clean
Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act of 2020''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I--UNITED STATES-INDIA CLEAN ENERGY AND POWER TRANSMISSION
PARTNERSHIP
Sec. 101. Sense of Congress on clean energy cooperation with India.
Sec. 102. Statement of policy.
Sec. 103. Establishment of United States-India Clean Energy and Power
Transmission Partnership.
Sec. 104. Strategy for implementation of the Clean Energy and Power
Transmission Partnership.
Sec. 105. Partnerships for cooperation on research and innovation for
clean energy technologies and expanded
power transmission and distribution.
Sec. 106. Initiatives for promoting clean energy technology financing
in India.
Sec. 107. Initiatives for technical assistance for grid improvement and
energy efficiency in India.
Sec. 108. Initiatives for generation of new renewable energy in India.
TITLE II--OTHER COOPERATION MATTERS
Sec. 201. United States-India climate change risk reduction and
resilience cooperation.
Sec. 202. Report on United States participation in Mission Innovation.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) India is the second most populous country in the world
with a population of approximately 1,334,000,000 people and the
fifth largest economy in the world with a nominal gross
domestic product of $2,940,000,000,000.
(2) India is among the countries most vulnerable to climate
change, with hundreds of millions of people susceptible to
events exacerbated by climate change, such as the spread of
infectious diseases, sea level rise and extreme flooding,
droughts, storms, and landslides triggered by extreme weather.
(3) India releases approximately 2,500,000,000 tons (carbon
dioxide equivalent) in greenhouse gases annually, making it the
third largest greenhouse gas emitter after China and the United
States. India ranks seventh in the world in cumulative
historical emissions and is the twelfth largest greenhouse gas
emitter per capita.
(4) India has one of the largest energy markets in the
world, and energy capacity in India has increased by 17.5
percent in 5 years to 365 gigawatts of installed electricity
capacity.
(5) Per capita energy consumption in India is relatively
low among emerging economic powers.
(6) Reliable access to power is crucial for the storage of
vaccines and antiretroviral and other lifesaving medical drugs,
as well as for the operation of modern lifesaving medical
equipment.
(7) Access to power can also provide improved information
and communication technologies that can greatly improve health
and education outcomes, as well as economic and commercial
opportunities.
(8) In 2000, only 43 percent of the population of India had
access to power. That percentage has more than doubled in the
last 20 years, with approximately 700,000,000 people in India
gaining access to electricity between 2000 and 2018.
(9) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized improving
citizen access to electricity and electrifying every household
in India.
(10) The Power for All initiative of the Government of
India aims to provide electricity to all households in India 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
(11) Providing around-the-clock electricity will require
India to double its electricity output by 2030 at an estimated
cost of $250,000,000,000, which will create more than
$30,000,000,000 in investment opportunities.
(12) As of August 2020, coal makes up the largest domestic
source of energy supply and electricity generation for India.
Renewable energy comprises approximately 35 percent of energy
generation in India.
(13) India imports 80 percent of its oil needs, and that
amount is projected to increase in the coming decades due to
aging oil fields and a lack of new oil discoveries in India.
India is increasing its oil refining capacity to maintain
supply to meet the rising demand for energy.
(14) India is projected to surpass the People's Republic of
China in oil consumption by 2030.
(15) On September 22, 2020, the People's Republic of China
announced a pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060
in its updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris
Agreement, done at Paris December 12, 2015, but given the need
to accelerate the reduction of global emissions along a 2050
timeline, that pledge is proportionally insufficient to avoid
an increase of 2 degrees Celsius in the global average
temperature.
(16) India, in contrast, is demonstrating that energy
security is a priority through concrete steps including
creating a unified national power system and incorporating
varied forms of renewable energy to diversify its power
sources.
(17) India's unconditional emissions target, as outlined in
the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution of India to the
Paris Agreement, aims to reduce carbon emissions in India by 33
percent to 35 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
(18) In its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution,
India set a goal of generating 175 gigawatts of renewable
energy by 2022, which India aimed to achieve by generating 100
gigawatts of solar energy, 60 gigawatts of wind energy, and 15
gigawatts of energy from other sources such as biomass and
small hydro.
(19) India has pledged to increase the share of its
installed electricity capacity that comes from non-fossil fuel
sources to 40 percent by 2030.
(20) India is among the top 5 clean energy producers
globally. Installed electricity capacity from renewables in
India grew by 144 percent from 2014 to 2020, and between 2014
and 2019 there was approximately $42,000,000,000 in investment
in the renewable energy sector in India.
(21) Numerous global funds, private equity firms, and
multilateral finance institutions are continuing to invest
billions of dollars in the growing renewable energy sector in
India.
(22) India plays a critical leadership role in Mission
Innovation, a global initiative in which the United States
participates that has the goal of accelerating the pace of
clean energy innovation to achieve performance breakthroughs
and cost reductions that will enable the provision of
affordable and reliable clean energy solutions.
(23) India leads the International Solar Alliance, an 86-
country initiative to mobilize $1,000,000,000,000 in solar
energy investment by 2030, to which the United States does not
belong.
(24) Increased ownership of appliances and cooling needs
could lead to a doubling or even tripling of energy use in
India by 2040. One billion air conditioning units are expected
to be in use in India by 2050.
(25) Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, done at Montreal
September 16, 1987, India has agreed to freeze its
manufacturing and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons in 2028.
(26) In 2009, the United States and India established a
formal energy cooperation dialogue, the United States-India
Energy Dialogue, which included the Partnership to Advance
Clean Energy initiative focusing on research into, deployment
of, and access to clean energy.
(27) The Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research
element of the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy initiative,
commonly referred to as ``PACE-R'', consists of research
consortia under the Joint Clean Energy Research and Development
Center launched in 2010 by the Department of Energy and the
Government of India with support from the private sector. PACE-
R has focused on solar power, advanced biofuels, energy
efficiency, and smart grids and energy storage.
(28) The Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Deployment
element of the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy initiative,
commonly referred to as ``PACE-D'', funds programs to improve
energy efficiency, grid connectivity, clean energy finance, and
more.
(29) The Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Access element
of the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy initiative, commonly
referred to as ``PEACE'', has focused on finance and technology
innovation, skills development, and ecosystem strengthening for
clean energy.
(30) In 2018, the United States Government established the
Asia Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy
initiative, commonly referred to as ``Asia EDGE'', to support
sustainable and secure energy markets throughout the Indo-
Pacific. Asia EDGE integrates elements of the Partnership to
Advance Clean Energy initiative along with new programs such as
the South Asia Group for Energy.
(31) In 2018, the Governments of India and the United
States established the U.S.-India Strategic Energy Partnership,
which includes pillars of cooperation on renewable energy and
sustainable growth.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Clean energy technologies.--The term ``clean energy
technologies'' means any process or product, or system of
processes or products, that--
(A) is applied at any stage of the energy cycle,
including production, transmission, and consumption;
and
(B) generates, contributes to the generation of, or
transmits energy that--
(i) produces zero greenhouse emissions; or
(ii) significantly mitigates or captures
greenhouse gas emissions from existing power
production.
(4) Climate security.--The term ``climate security'' means
accounting for and guarding against the challenges and harms
that are scientifically attributable to the effects of climate
change on--
(A) United States national security and
subnational, national, and regional political
stability; and
(B) overseas security and conflict situations that
are potentially exacerbated by dynamic environmental
factors and events, including--
(i) the intensification and frequency of
droughts, floods, wildfires, tropical storms,
and other extreme weather events;
(ii) changes in historical severe weather,
drought, and wildfire patterns;
(iii) the expansion of geographical ranges
of droughts, floods, and wildfires into regions
that had not regularly experienced such
phenomena;
(iv) global sea level rise patterns and the
expansion of geographical ranges affected by
drought; and
(v) changes in marine environments that
affect critical geostrategic waterways, such as
the Arctic Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, the Indian
Ocean, the South China Sea, the South Pacific
Ocean, the Barents Sea, and the Beaufort Sea.
(5) Secretary.--Except as otherwise specifically provided,
the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of State.
TITLE I--UNITED STATES-INDIA CLEAN ENERGY AND POWER TRANSMISSION
PARTNERSHIP
SEC. 101. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON CLEAN ENERGY COOPERATION WITH INDIA.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) robust cooperation on the development and deployment of
clean energy technologies should be a priority in relations
between the United States and India and the top priority in the
countries' energy diplomacy;
(2) the collaboration of the United States and India on the
development and deployment of clean energy technologies has
resulted in innovative new technologies that have helped
significantly lower the carbon emissions of the power sector in
India;
(3) demand for energy in India will increase with the
expansion of the economy and middle class of India, and it is
in the interest of United States national security and global
security for the United States to support India in growing the
energy sector of India in environmentally and socially
responsible ways that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and
improve the climate security of India;
(4) the United States and India should continue
collaborating on research and development of new clean energy
technologies, as well as deployment of those technologies, so
people across India can access power generated from clean
energy technologies;
(5) the United States, through the Bureau of Energy
Resources of the Department of State, the United States
International Development Finance Corporation, the Department
of Energy, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the
International Trade Administration, and the United States
Agency for International Development, should encourage private
sector investment in and financing for the development and
deployment of clean energy technologies in India;
(6) the United States should support the Power for All
initiative created by the Government of India through technical
and other forms of assistance;
(7) the United States should support the ambitious
renewable energy generation goals set by the Government of
India through technical and other forms of assistance;
(8) Mission Innovation, in which India plays a critical
leadership role, represents an unmatched opportunity to make
clean energy technologies more affordable and accessible by
increasing funding for clean energy innovation;
(9) the United States should increase its participation in
and contributions to Mission Innovation;
(10) the International Solar Alliance led by India will
play a key role in mobilizing significant international
investment in solar energy;
(11) the United States should join and contribute to the
International Solar Alliance led by India;
(12) India has implemented several new policies to promote
the production and use of electric vehicles in India;
(13) the United States should promote research,
development, and private sector cooperation on the production
of electric vehicles and the planning and execution of an
expansive charging station network to support extensive use of
electric vehicles;
(14) increased demand for refrigeration and air
conditioning in India, and the adoption of the Kigali Amendment
to the Montreal Protocol, done at Montreal September 16, 1987,
are driving innovation and investments in next-generation
refrigeration equipment and refrigerants in India; and
(15) enhanced United States-India bilateral cooperation and
engagement on the development of technologies and chemicals
that are compliant with the Kigali Amendment are in the
interest of United States industry leaders in the refrigeration
and chemical coolant industries.
SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to increase engagement and
cooperation with the Government of India, the Indian diaspora community
in the United States, and the private sector and civil society in both
the United States and India in a concerted effort--
(1) to support the ambitious goals of India--
(A) to expand renewable energy production in India;
(B) to improve access of the general population to
electricity; and
(C) to provide reliable, around-the-clock power
service to all communities;
(2) to help improve the energy security of India and
decrease the dependence of India on imported fossil fuels;
(3) to foster innovation through academic and research
partnerships and mutually beneficial arrangements relating to
technology transfers and protection of intellectual property;
(4) to facilitate United States private sector investment
in projects to expand power transmission and distribution
capacity and territorial coverage in India to increase the
number of people, households, and communities with access to
power;
(5) to provide technical assistance and advice as
appropriate, and solely at the request and with the consent of
the relevant national and local authorities and stakeholders,
on--
(A) reforms of power production, delivery, and
pricing;
(B) reducing aggregate technical and commercial
energy losses in India's energy transmission and
distribution systems;
(C) regulatory reforms; and
(D) long-term, market-based power generation and
distribution;
(6) to support efforts to lower India's greenhouse gas
emissions by promoting United States private investment in--
(A) renewable energy production;
(B) electric vehicle technology;
(C) measures to improve the efficiency of existing
electricity generation units; and
(D) electricity transmission projects to improve--
(i) the affordability of electricity;
(ii) grid reliability;
(iii) the number of citizens and households
with access to electricity;
(iv) rural electrification; and
(v) electric vehicle charging
infrastructure;
(7) to improve the climate security of India and reduce
vulnerability to the effects of climate change, with an
emphasis on protecting the health and safety of the most
vulnerable and underserved communities in India; and
(8) to strengthen India's resilience capacities that ensure
people, households, communities, institutions, and systems can
assess, anticipate, prevent, adapt to, cope with, and recover
from shocks and stresses associated with the effects of climate
change.
SEC. 103. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES-INDIA CLEAN ENERGY AND POWER
TRANSMISSION PARTNERSHIP.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this title is--
(1) to advance cooperation between the United States and
India on, and private sector engagement and investment in, the
development and deployment of clean energy technologies;
(2) to improve power transmission reliability and grid
capacity in India; and
(3) to enhance citizen access to electricity across India.
(b) United States-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission
Partnership.--The purposes described in subsection (a) shall be
advanced through the development and execution of bilateral initiatives
under an initiative to be known as the ``United States-India Clean
Energy and Power Transmission Partnership'' (in this title referred to
as the ``Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership'').
(c) Functions.--The Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership
shall serve as--
(1) the primary forum for cooperation between the United
States and India on clean energy technologies and energy
transmission; and
(2) the mechanism through which such cooperation is funded.
SEC. 104. STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLEAN ENERGY AND POWER
TRANSMISSION PARTNERSHIP.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive, integrated,
multi-year strategy for implementing the Clean Energy and Power
Transmission Partnership.
(b) Flexibility and Responsiveness.--The strategy required by
subsection (a) shall maintain sufficient flexibility and responsiveness
to technological innovation in the power sector of India.
(c) Elements.--The strategy required by subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a general description, developed in collaboration with
the Government of India and local and regional authorities in
India, of the goals and ongoing efforts in India--
(A) to increase power production;
(B) to build and maintain resilient electrical
transmission and distribution infrastructure;
(C) to expand electrical transmission and
distribution infrastructure in order to provide
equitable household and community access to
electricity;
(D) to implement regulatory reform, regional
interoperability, and transparent and accountable
governance and oversight;
(E) to strengthen the reliability and regional
interoperability of the electrical grid; and
(F) for electricity service providers--
(i) to provide affordable and reliable
power;
(ii) to reduce technical and nontechnical
losses;
(iii) to collect fees for services; and
(iv) to expand service to underserved
communities;
(2) an assessment of how the initiatives included in the
Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership will support
achievement of the clean energy and expanded energy access
goals of India, including--
(A) an analysis of the state of distributed
renewable energy in India;
(B) a description of market barriers to the
deployment of clean energy technologies, including
distributed renewable energy technologies both on- and
off-grid in India;
(C) an analysis of the efficacy of efforts by the
Department of State, the United States Trade
Representative, the United States International
Development Finance Corporation, and the United States
Agency for International Development to facilitate the
financing of the importation, distribution, sale,
leasing, and marketing of clean energy technologies in
India; and
(D) a description of how bolstering distributed
renewable energy can enhance the overall effort to
increase power access in India;
(3) a description of existing programs or initiatives
that--
(A) meet the requirements for initiatives under
sections 105 through 108; and
(B) can be integrated into the Clean Energy and
Power Transmission Partnership;
(4) a list of programs that exist as of the date of the
submittal of the strategy that will be integrated into the
Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership;
(5) recommendations on the establishment of any new
programs to meet the requirements for initiatives under
sections 105 through 108; and
(6) a plan describing which parts of the United States
Government shall serve as the lead for which components of the
Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership.
SEC. 105. PARTNERSHIPS FOR COOPERATION ON RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FOR
CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND EXPANDED POWER TRANSMISSION
AND DISTRIBUTION.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is--
(1) to promote and accelerate the pace of innovation and
deployment of clean energy technologies; and
(2) to expand community and household access to power in
India.
(b) Research and Development Partnerships.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Secretary of Energy and the Administrator and only with the
cooperation of the Government of India, shall promote
partnerships between entities in the United States and India on
research, development, demonstration, and commercial
application of clean energy technologies as part of the Clean
Energy and Power Transmission Partnership.
(2) Exchanges; sharing.--The partnerships described in
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) exchanges between United States clean energy
university centers of excellence designated under
paragraph (4) and institutions of higher education in
India described in paragraph (5);
(B) exchanges between research laboratories of the
Government of the United States and the Government of
India; and
(C) lawful sharing of intellectual property between
the United States and India, including between private
sector entities in the two countries, with respect to--
(i) renewable energy technology;
(ii) air conditioning technology; and
(iii) refrigeration systems technology.
(3) Functions.--United States clean energy university
centers of excellence designated under paragraph (4) and
research laboratories of the Government of the United States,
in collaboration with their respective partner institutions of
higher education in India under paragraph (5) and research
laboratories of the Government of India, shall be responsible
for--
(A) assessing different potential technological,
development, policy, and technical solutions to address
existing and emerging energy production and
transmission capacity constraints in India;
(B) facilitating engagements between energy
authorities in India and private sector clean energy
technology suppliers and project developers that could
provide solutions to energy capacity challenges;
(C) ensuring that local stakeholders and host
communities in India where projects are being developed
are adequately engaged and given due consideration in
the development of energy projects supported by the
partnership;
(D) arranging for the appropriate and lawful
sharing of prototyping, technology transfer activities,
and production facilities for clean energy
technologies, including assistance to clean energy
technology start-up ventures;
(E) promoting job training opportunities in the
deployment and operation of clean energy technologies
and energy transmission; and
(F) performing such other duties and providing such
reports as the Secretary may require.
(4) United states clean energy university centers of
excellence.--
(A) Designation.--The Secretary, in coordination
with the Secretary of Energy, shall designate up to 10
institutions of higher education in the United States,
to be known as ``United States clean energy university
centers of excellence'', to participate in partnerships
under this section.
(B) Eligibility.--To be eligible for designation as
a United States clean energy university center of
excellence under subparagraph (A), an institution of
higher education shall be an organization that is
described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section
501(a) of that Code.
(C) Application.--An institution of higher
education seeking designation as a United States clean
energy university center of excellence under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary
containing, at a minimum, the following:
(i) A description of all entities within
the institution that would comprise the United
States clean energy university center of
excellence (in this subparagraph referred to as
``component entities'').
(ii) Any appropriate information on the
qualifications of individuals in key management
positions in the institution and the component
entities.
(iii) A full description of the governance
structure and management processes of the
institution and the component entities,
including a conflict of interest policy.
(iv) A description of the policies and
procedures of the institution and the component
entities for managing new intellectual property
created by a partnership under this section.
(v) A description of how the institution
would carry out the functions described in
paragraph (3).
(vi) Recommendations on--
(I) the scope of work for the
initial year of activities of the
institution under the Clean Energy and
Power Transmission Partnership; and
(II) focuses for future
programming.
(D) Selection process.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall select
institutions of higher education for designation as
United States clean energy university centers of
excellence under this section through an open and
competitive process.
(E) Selection criteria.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall
establish criteria for selecting institutions of higher
education for designation as United States clean energy
university centers of excellence under this section
based on--
(i) an evaluation of--
(I) the strength of the governance
structure of the institution and the
component entities;
(II) the expertise and experience
of key research management and academic
personnel of the institution;
(III) the demonstrated knowledge of
the institution with respect to--
(aa) energy markets in
India;
(bb) regulatory frameworks
and energy policies in India;
(cc) power service
providers in India;
(dd) applied energy
technologies in India; and
(ee) energy challenges,
including capacity constraints,
in India; and
(IV) the capability of the
institution to conduct regional energy
market analyses and assessments of the
practicality of applying various clean
energy technologies to address various
energy challenges in India;
(ii) commitments of co-funding from non-
Federal sources;
(iii) the capability of the institution to
attract matching funds from both non-Federal
and nongovernmental sources for follow-on
investments in widespread application of
successful projects; and
(iv) the capability and experience of the
institution in managing technology transfer
programs.
(F) Selection priority.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall select
institutions of higher education for designation as
United States clean energy university centers of
excellence under this section in a manner that
represents the geographic diversity of the United
States.
(5) Partner institutions in india.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary, in collaboration
with the appropriate ministries of the Government of
India, shall support the establishment of partnerships
between United States clean energy university centers
of excellence designated under this section and
institutions of higher education in India.
(B) Eligibility and selection.--The Secretary shall
encourage the Government of India to select
institutions described in subparagraph (A) for
participation in partnerships under this section based
on criteria similar to the criteria for eligibility and
selection of United States clean energy university
centers of excellence described in paragraph (4).
(C) Pairing.--The Secretary, in collaboration with
the relevant ministries of the Government of India,
shall pair selected United States clean energy
university centers of excellence designated under this
section and institutions of higher education in India
according to the strength and similarities of the
respective applications.
(6) Private sector involvement.--United States clean energy
university centers of excellence participating in partnerships
under this section are encouraged to, in collaboration with
their respective partner institutions of higher education in
India under paragraph (5)--
(A) collaborate with private sector energy and
technology companies; and
(B) identify private sector entities that will
contribute resources to the initiatives and projects
developed through partnerships under this section.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 for the
Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center established
by the Department of Energy and the Government of India.
(2) Use of funds.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated
under paragraph (1) may be used only for renewable energy
projects.
(d) Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership.--All
initiatives established or continued under the authorities of this
section shall be part of the Clean Energy and Power Transmission
Partnership.
SEC. 106. INITIATIVES FOR PROMOTING CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY FINANCING
IN INDIA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Chief
Executive Officer of the United States International Development
Finance Corporation and the Administrator and only with the cooperation
of the Government of India, shall encourage private investment by
United States entities in the clean energy technology market in India
through new initiatives or initiatives in existence as of the date of
the enactment of this Act, as appropriate.
(b) Streamlined Financing Procedures.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the United States
International Development Finance Corporation shall, as appropriate,
simplify and streamline the application, approval, and post-approval
processes for insurance, financing, investment, or reinsurance for
clean energy technology projects or subprojects in India for which the
total support of the Corporation is less than $20,000,000--
(1) by expediting the review and consideration of, and
determinations with respect to, applications for insurance,
financing, investment, or reinsurance, consistent with
investment best practices, including appropriate risk
management, for such projects and subprojects; and
(2) by reducing the burdens of project management for, and
eliminating duplicative or unnecessary oversight of, such
projects and subprojects after approval of insurance,
financing, investment, or reinsurance for projects or
subprojects.
(c) Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership.--All
initiatives established or continued under the authorities of this
section shall be part of the Clean Energy and Power Transmission
Partnership.
SEC. 107. INITIATIVES FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR GRID IMPROVEMENT AND
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN INDIA.
(a) In General.--The Administrator, only with the cooperation of
the Government of India or regional authorities within India, shall
support initiatives, including new initiatives and initiatives in
existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act, as appropriate,
to provide technical assistance and expertise on electricity grid and
energy efficiency improvements in India for the following purposes:
(1) Expanding the electricity grid to reach all regions and
populations.
(2) Developing microgrids in areas in which connection to
the larger electricity grid is challenging.
(3) Increasing the integration of renewable energy into the
electricity grid.
(4) Enhancing the interconnectivity of electricity grids
across states of India.
(5) Boosting the storage capacity of the electricity grid.
(6) Developing standards for clean energy technologies,
smart buildings, and data centers.
(7) Increasing deployment of smart meters and other energy
efficiency technology.
(8) Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and
appliances.
(9) Improving pollution controls and the efficiency of
fossil fuel electric generating units.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(c) Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership.--All
initiatives established or continued under the authorities of this
section shall be part of the Clean Energy and Power Transmission
Partnership.
SEC. 108. INITIATIVES FOR GENERATION OF NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY IN INDIA.
(a) In General.--The Administrator, only with the approval of the
Government of India, shall support initiatives, including new
initiatives and initiatives in existence as of the date of the
enactment of this Act, as appropriate, to develop new renewable energy
generation capacity in India.
(b) Selection of Initiatives.--In selecting initiatives to support
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall take into account the
priorities of the Government of India, including the renewable energy
generation goals established by the Intended Nationally Determined
Contribution of India to the Paris Agreement, done at Paris December
12, 2015.
(c) Sources of Renewable Energy.--The initiatives supported under
subsection (a) may include initiatives for the generation of
electricity from the following sources:
(1) Solar power, to include rooftop solar generation and
utility-scale solar generation.
(2) Wind power, to include offshore wind power generation.
(3) Geothermal power.
(4) Biofuels.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(e) Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership.--All
initiatives established or continued under the authorities of this
section shall be part of the Clean Energy and Power Transmission
Partnership.
TITLE II--OTHER COOPERATION MATTERS
SEC. 201. UNITED STATES-INDIA CLIMATE CHANGE RISK REDUCTION AND
RESILIENCE COOPERATION.
(a) In General.--The Government of the United States shall work
cooperatively with the Government of India on integrating
scientifically supported climate change risk reduction and building
resilience capacities in India.
(b) Priority.--Advancing the risk reduction and resilience
capacities described in subsection (a) shall be a priority for United
States diplomatic, security, and development programs within the United
States mission to India.
(c) Coordination.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the
Administrator, shall coordinate the efforts of agencies with direct
international development programs and investments--
(1) to bolster resilience capacities to the effects of
climate change in India by supporting efforts in India to help
assure that climate risk assessments and security planning in
India adequately evaluate and account for risks and
vulnerabilities associated with effects of climate change using
best-available climate change data, forecasts, tools, and
information;
(2) to use shared knowledge, data, forecasts, tools,
information, frameworks, and lessons learned in incorporating
climate change resilience programming, planning, projects,
investments, and related funding decisions; and
(3) to work with civil society and local leaders, as
appropriate--
(A) to identify risks associated with the effects
of climate change in India; and
(B) to encourage and support efforts in India to
enhance resilience to the effects of climate change.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agencies with direct international development programs
and investments.--The term ``agencies with direct international
development programs and investments'' means--
(A) the Department of State;
(B) the Department of Agriculture;
(C) the Department of the Interior;
(D) the United States Agency for International
Development;
(E) the Millennium Challenge Corporation;
(F) the United States International Development
Finance Corporation;
(G) the Trade and Development Agency; and
(H) other relevant agencies and entities.
(2) Resilience.--The term ``resilience'' means the ability
of an individual, household, community, country, or region to
withstand, to adapt, and to quickly recover from shocks and
stresses associated with the effects of climate change.
SEC. 202. REPORT ON UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION IN MISSION INNOVATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report detailing the scope and nature of
United States participation in Mission Innovation, including--
(1) who has represented the United States at the third and
fourth Mission Innovation ministerial meetings, including the
agency, office, and title of the each relevant individual;
(2) what the agenda of the United States has been at past
Mission Innovation ministerial meetings;
(3) the partnerships and project collaborations the United
States has established or announced through Mission Innovation;
(4) how the United States has leveraged Mission Innovation
to develop or foster investment in new technologies or
technology transfer arrangements between United States private
sector partners and foreign entities;
(5) how the United States has attracted private sector
entities to contribute and participate in Mission Innovation;
(6) the total amount of funding provided by the United
States Government to Mission Innovation each year since the
establishment of Mission Innovation; and
(7) a strategic engagement plan and set of objectives for
delivering new energy technology innovation outcomes through
Mission Innovation.
(b) Definition of Mission Innovation.--In this section, the term
``Mission Innovation'' means the global initiative led by India that
has the goal of accelerating the pace of clean energy innovation to
achieve performance breakthroughs and cost reductions that will enable
the provision of affordable and reliable clean energy solutions.
<all>
Prioritizing Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act of 2020
#4759 | S Congress #116
Policy Area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovationsAir qualityAlternative and renewable resourcesAsiaAtmospheric science and weatherBuilding constructionChemistryClimate change and greenhouse gasesCoalConflicts and warsCongressional oversightElectric power generation and transmissionEmployment and training programsEnergy efficiency and conservationEnergy pricesEnergy researchEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental technologyFires
Last Action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (9/30/2020)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text