India, US hold energy dialogue

India and the United States on Tuesday held energy dialogue during which both countries exhibited strong commitment to collaborate in various energy areas, Indian Foreign Ministry stated. "India and the United States affirmed that both countries had a strong commitment to collaborating on energy and promoting greater technological innovation, scientific collaboration, trade, research and development, deploying environment-friendly technologies and products, and promoting sound regulatory frameworks to deliver energy solutions for sustainable growth," the Foreign Ministry stated. The India-U.S. Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi during which the officials representing two sides reviewed the full range of cooperation under the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue, the ministry added The energy dialogue was co-chaired by Indian Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and Dr. Ernest Moniz, Secretary, U. S. Department of Energy. Senior officials representing the two countries also participated in the dialogue process The Energy Dialogue is part of the broader Indio-U.S. Strategic Dialogue, the ministry said Co-chairs of the dialogue, Ahluwalia, and Secretary Moniz expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the energy sector through the co-operative process. In 2009, the U.S. and India agreed to significantly increase collaboration under the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) for deployment, research and development in clean energy, the ministry noted. "The joint consortia members from the U.S-India virtual Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center (JCERDC) also presented on their progress in solar, advanced bio-fuels, and energy efficiency research projects under PACE-R, a unique program for funding joint research by Indian and US institutes," the ministry said.