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Excerpts from the India-US Joint Statement on Energy Security and Clean Environmen

Source: www.broadcastindia.com

President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [have] expressed satisfaction with the great progress the United States and India have made in advancing our strategic partnership to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. Both our countries are linked by a deep commitment to freedom and democracy; a celebration of national diversity, human creativity and innovation; a quest to expand prosperity and economic opportunity worldwide; and a desire to increase mutual security against the common threats posed by intolerance, terrorism, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The successful transformation of the US-India relationship will have a decisive and positive influence on the future international system as it evolves in this new century. Reviewing the progress made in deepening the global partnership between the United States and India since their Joint Statement of July 18, 2005, the President and the Prime Minister reaffirm their commitment to expand even further the growing ties between their two countries. Consistent with this objective, the two leaders wish to highlight efforts the United States and India are making together [in the area of energy security and clean environment]: For Energy Security and a Clean Environment Welcomed the successful completion of discussions on India’s separation plan and looked forward to the full implementation of the commitments in the July 18, 2005 Joint Statement on nuclear cooperation. This historic accomplishment will permit our countries to move forward toward our common objective of full civil nuclear energy cooperation between India and the United States and between India and the international community as a whole. Welcomed the participation of India in the ITER initiative on fusion energy as an important further step toward the common goal of full nuclear energy cooperation. Agreed on India’s participation in FutureGen, an international public-private partnership to develop new, commercially viable technology for a clean coal near-zero emission power project. India will contribute funding to the project and participate in the Government Steering Committee of this initiative. Welcomed the creation of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which will enable India and the United States to work together with other countries in the region to pursue sustainable development and meet increased energy needs while addressing concerns of energy security and climate change. The Partnership will collaborate to promote the development, diffusion, deployment and transfer of cleaner, cost-effective, and more efficient technologies and practices. Welcomed India’s interest in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, an international marine research endeavor that will contribute to long-term energy solutions such as gas hydrates. Noting the positive cooperation under the Indo-US Energy Dialogue, highlighted plans to hold joint conferences on topics such as energy efficiency and natural gas, to conduct study missions on renewable energy, to establish a clearing-house in India for coal-bed methane/coal-mine methane, and to exchange energy market information.   From our readers The information in this Bulletin is really comprehensive and important. I am really impressed by your efforts and found the journal remarkable for its content and the news provided for energy conservation. Include conservation techniques for small and medium enterprise (SME) paper mills. S.K. Sadhu, General Manager (Technical) Anand Tissues Ltd, Meerut The article on "Light Pollution" (October 2005 issue) is enlightening and thought-provoking. Unnecessary lights, excessive lights and badly installed lights need the attention of the concerned bodies not just once but continuously to curb the nuisance. More concentrated efforts are required to create awareness about light pollution. The article is a good step in this direction. I hope it will enlighten many more people. Dr Neeraj Saxena Mission REACH, TIFAC, New Delhi The magazine is really doing its fair bit by providing important energy saving case studies. This will surely increase the awareness for energy conservation and urge industries to take on more energy saving projects. Include techniques for increasing efficiencies of major and common elements of utilities, for example cooling towers. This may include economy through better administration or simply better / latest advancements. B.S. Marathe ACE (Electrical), Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd, Raigad Our rivers can be used for generation of energy - hydropower. However, since no de-silting is done, most of our large rivers cannot be used for hydropower. Request you to publish content on de-silting/dredging of rivers to make them useful for hydropower generation. Tahir Hasan, Vice Chairman Allahabad Dairy, Allahabad Include articles on use of electric energy on board ships and other marine utility. Pravin A. Shaparta, Director BVU Engineering & Marine Industries Pvt Ltd Rajkot Include articles on alternative fuels like bio-diesel, ethanol, methanol, hydrogen and about new technologies like fuel cells, etc. Chandan Kumar, Lecturer Sri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Udhampur Back