Regional Events and Engagement

Inter-State Panel on Reaching the Unreached February 5, 2020

Clean Energy Access Network (CLEAN) in partnership with NITI Aayog, Government of India organized the 4th edition of India Energy for All Summit 2020, click here.

The Future of Electric Vehicles in India January 31, 2020

Electric vehicles (EVs) offer solutions to some of the biggest problems of the next century, from combatting climate change to reducing air pollution. India has recognized this, with the central government and 14 states developing policies to support EV adoption. In September 2018, Colorado and Gujarat held an energy partnership dialogue which led to an MOU encouraging future collaboration, including transportation electrification, click here.

Tamil Nadu - Massachusetts Energy Partnership October 21, 2019 - October 23, 2019

CSIS has been liaising with state power officials from the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu since February 2017 in an effort to uncover the state’s energy priorities. Tamil Nadu officials were participants in the first ever, U.S. – India Subnational Energy Workshop hosted in Delhi in November 2017 as part of CSIS' State and Urban Initiative, click here

The U.S.-India State and Urban Initiative Announces a Historic Partnership between Utah and Rajasthan August 29, 2019

The U.S.-India State and Urban Initiative, led by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is pleased to announce a partnership between the Utah Governor's Office of Energy Development and the Energy Department of the state of Rajasthan. On August 26, the two states held a dialogue focused on emergent energy challenges and opportunities. State officials created a framework to bolster energy policy best practices sharing and support the development of the energy sector in both states, click here.

Utah-Rajasthan Energy Partnership Dialogue August 26, 2019

Solarize Campaign Workshop of the U.S.-India Clean Energy Finance Task Force October 8, 2018 | New Delhi

CSIS supported green energy marketing company SmartPower in organizing a Solarize Campaign Workshop as part of the U.S.-India Clean Energy Finance Task Force. The workshop opened with a keynote from Ms. Veena Sinha, Director of India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. SmartPower President Brian Keane then introduced participants to the Solarize campaign model and how to create their own campaigns. He also introduced the SmartPower India Online Solarize Campaign pilot, which intends to help expand access to affordable and reliable rooftop solar power among Indian citizens. The pilot project, jointly announced at RE-Invest 2018 by the U.S. Department of State and India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, will give partners in Delhi and Mumbai an online platform through which they can run profitable campaigns to increase rooftop solar adoption in their communities.

India Energy Storage and Smart Grid Reverse Trade Mission Workshop October 4, 2018 | Washington, D.C.

CSIS participated in a workshop on “India Energy Storage and Smart Grids” as part of a reverse trade mission organized by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. This effort provided a forum for U.S. and Indian power sector stakeholders to better understand how lessons from U.S. grid modernization, energy storage, energy efficiency and renewable energy integration solutions can help achieve India’s goals to meet increasing energy demand across the country. The program highlighted regulatory policies, best practices, and financing mechanisms to spur increased investment in cutting-edge technologies in India that already are transforming energy distribution globally. CSIS leveraged its expertise in tracking Indian states energy priorities to highlight the policy and regulatory opportunities and challenges facing these technologies in India.

Government of Maharashtra Signs MoU with the Network for Global Innovation September 28, 2018 | Los Angeles, CA

Facilitated by CSIS, as part of the U.S. State and Urban Initiative and endorsed by the California Energy Commission, the Network for Global Innovation (NGIN) signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maharashtra for cooperation in the creation of a high-performance innovation ecosystem in the state of Maharashtra. Mr. S.V.R Srinivas, Principal Secretary IT, Government of Maharashtra, joined NGIN President and CEO Fred Walti for the signing and subsequent discussion. David Ou, International Trade Specialist for the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, was witness to the signing.
Press Release.

National Association of State Energy Officials 2018 Annual Meeting September 23-26, 2018 | Detroit, Michigan

Building on a nearly two year-long relationship with NASEO as part of the U.S. – India State & Urban Initiative, CSIS was a supporting organization for this year’s annual NASEO meeting. On September 25th, CSIS helped organize a panel discussion titled “Breaking Boundaries for Energy and Transportation Innovation: U.S. and Indian Perspectives.” The session brought together representatives from the U.S. states of Michigan and Colorado, the Bureau of Energy Resources of the U.S. Department of State, and Indian private sector companies of the Tata Group to discuss how the U.S. and India are driving innovation in technologies, operations, and business models in the energy sector as well as avenues for cooperation between U.S. states and their Indian counterparts. For more details on the session, click here.

Gujarat-Colorado Energy Partnership Dialogue September 10th – 12th, 2018 | Gandhinagar, Gujarat

CSIS organized a two-day long Gujarat-Colorado energy partnership dialogue. The Honorable Mr. Saurabhbhai Patel, Minister for Energy for the Government of Gujarat, opened the Colorado-Gujarat Energy Partnership event. Ms. Kathleen Staks, the Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office, led the Colorado delegation. Day one focused on emergent energy challenges and opportunities in both states. The second day of the dialogue began with a research roundtable organized by the Gujarat Energy Research Management Institute (GERMI) and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation. The roundtable concluded with the signing of an MoU between the Colorado Energy Office and GERMI. The research roundtable was followed by an energy industry roundtable organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry to unlock prospects for commercial engagement. The group also conducted several site visits, including a canal-top solar power plant and Adani’s privately-managed Mundra port. For more information on the event click here.

Maharashtra Development Partnership Roundtable June 14, 2018

The secretariat organized a Maharashtra Development Partnership Roundtable timed with the visit of Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra to Washington, D.C. Three new partnerships between U.S. stakeholders and the government of Maharashtra were announced during the event as part of the U.S. – India State & Urban Initiative. U.S. stakeholders included Los Angeles – based Network for Global Innovation, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Colorado – based Rocky Mountain Institute. For more information on the event click here.

Madhya Pradesh Partnership Roundtable April 18, 2018

On April 18th, CSIS hosted a development partnership roundtable in Washington, D.C. featuring Mr. Vivek Aggarwal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Mr. Aggarwal engaged with U.S. stakeholders from the private sector, research institutions, federal government, and civil society who wished to develop partnerships with the government of Madhya Pradesh. This was followed by a special visit to Orlando at the invitation of Mayor Buddy Dyer to discuss a smart sister city agreement between the city of Orlando and the city of Bhopal. The visit also allowed Mr. Aggarwal to strategize with leadership from the University of Central Florida on shaping their Madhya Pradesh research initiative. Read the press release here.

State and Urban Initiative Engagement: Florida edition Feb 14-15, 2018

On behalf of the secretariat, Dr. Kartikeya Singh engaged with key stakeholders from the city of Orlando, Florida. This included meeting with the local utility, the chief sustainability officer of the city of Orlando, Orange County government officials, the Central Florida International Trade Office, the state representative from the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the University of Central Florida (UCF). Dr. Singh also participated in a reception organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in honor of UCF's brand new India Center through which the university is hoping to engage deeply with one of Indian states on a range of issues including energy and smart cities.

State and Urban Initiative Engagement: South Carolina Edition March 12-14, 2018

The secretariat of the initiative was represented by Dr. Kartikeya Singh in engagements with the state of South Carolina. The visit included a tour of the state-of-the-art Clemson University SCE&G Energy Innovation Center, which houses the world's most advanced wind turbine drivetrain testing facility. Dr. Singh also engaged with the South Carolina Energy and Commerce Offices and the South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance.

U.S-India Subnational Energy Workshop in New Delhi Nov 1-3, 2017

CSIS in partnership with the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation hosted the first-ever U.S.–India Subnational Energy Workshop in New Delhi. The event brought together over 100 participants over three days including 10 representatives of Indian states, 12 representatives of U.S. states, India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), and several U.S. federal government agencies to discuss common challenges in deploying technologies, creating policies and management of the grid of the future.

Read full memo for highlights, key learnings and next steps.

State and Urban Initiative Engagement: Georgia Edition October 24, 2017

On October 24, 2017, Georgia Institute of Technology hosted Dr. Kartikeya Singh, Deputy Director of the Wadhwani Chair, in Atlanta for the third regional stakeholder forum in the U.S. designed to activate stakeholder interest in engaging Indian states on energy. Meetings were conducted with senior representatives from the Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy, The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. the School of Economics, the city of Atlanta and the Consul General of the Indian consulate in Atlanta. Dr. Singh also gave a public address on subnational energy engagement and how Indian states intend to chart their energy futures.

State and Urban Initiative Engagement: California Edition September 6, 2017

On September 6, CSIS partnered with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to co-organize the "Strategic Review of U.S.-India Energy Cooperation" in Berkeley California. The gathering brought together 30 representatives from the west coast from government, civil society, research institutions, philanthropy and private sector to discuss ways that they may build partnerships with Indian state governments on energy. Ambassador Venkatesan Ashok, Consul General of India, San Francisco gave the opening remarks. California state was represented by Mr. Awinash Bawle, Deputy Director of International Affairs and Business Development from the California Governor's Office and Mr. Bryan Early, Special Advisor to Commissioner Andrew McAllister at the California Energy Commission.

Strategic Review of U.S.-India Energy Cooperation June 20, 2017

CSIS hosted the strategic review during a half-day event to focus on an overview of energy priorities of Indian states, current engagement by the federal and subnational engagement between U.S. and India, how to leverage the energy innovation ecosystem in the U.S. to collaborate with India and finding ways for commercial and industry to be involved in energy cooperation between the two countries. The event was attended by representatives of four U.S. state energy offices, federal agencies, universities and research institutions, foundations and the private sector.

State and Urban Initiative Engagement: Arizona Edition April 6-7, 2017

From April 6-7, 2017, Arizona State University hosted Dr. Kartikeya Singh, Deputy Director of the Wadhwani Chair to strategize how the university, led by the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, might connect conduct energy research in India’s states. Dr. Singh started by giving a public address focused on India’s energy access and climate mitigation and adaptation challenges. This was followed by meetings with officials from the School of Sustainability, LightWorks, and the Global Security Initiative to determine research strengths and interests across the campus to match with Indian states’ energy priorities. Dr. Singh also met with the Chief Sustainability Officer for the city of Phoenix, the Vice President of International Trade from the Arizona Commerce Authority and local companies like Fluidic Energy and First Solar to map out a broad set of stakeholders from the region who might meet the energy priorities of India’s cities and states.

State and Urban Initiative Engagement: Massachusetts Edition February February 10, 2017

On February 10, 2017, Tufts University hosted Dr. Kartikeya Singh for its annual energy conference to moderate a panel discussion focused on distributed energy resources. During the visit, Dr. Singh also engaged with other research centers based in the region including MIT’s Energy Initiative, the Tata Center for Technology and Design, and the Climate CoLab housed at the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence. Discussions were held at Greentown Labs, a top cleantech incubator in the country on the possibilities for forming alliances with Indian incubators to expand the ecosystem of energy innovation between the United States and India. Additional partners identified and engaged with during this visit included the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Meister Consultants Group, NEC Energy Solutions, an energy storage company, and the International District Energy Association, a consortium of companies focused on district heating and cooling services.

Center for Strategic & International Studies