Latest Updates: February 2007:
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US Hydropower is planning workshops for stakeholders in India
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Delegation from Southern African Countries visiting Washington, DC
Asia Pacific Partnership Activities
- There will be meeting Friday, February 16, with CEQ at 2pm. This is a follow-up to the meeting held in Senator Byrd’s office. Jim Connaughton , Chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality will host the meeting, representatives from the key Clean Energy Associations and key companies will attend. This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss how the U.S. government can better support international clean energy investment. If you would like further information or wish to participate in the meeting, please feel free to contact US Hydropower (Debby Stone, Director Trade Promotion, Washington, DC, debbys@us-hydropower.org, tel. (202) 383-2536)
- As you may already be aware, US Hydropower has been actively engaged in the Asia Pacific Initiative since the White House started the dialogue with US industry a few years back. Debby Stone is a member of the Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Task Force and US Hydropower’s proposed APP Hydropower Initiative was accepted by the Task Force in 2006 as a “flagship project”. Under this effort, we are working to build on our partnership with the USAID Mission in India to maximize community benefits and to execute near term projects and address barriers.
In conjunction with APP, we have discussed 2 main areas: (1) enhanced policy work in Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal, and expanding our efforts to add the states of Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim; and (2) seed funding to support community development and ancillary benefits from hydro development (which would require working with local NGOs and development experts.)
IFC has committed to $40 M in project finance for small projects in MP, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh. These two focus areas will support these projects and pave the way for additional projects in the pipeline. On the community development side, the first 2 MW project will be in Madhya Pradesh. The proposal is to cost share services, including potable water, improved roadway access, medical services, and a structure to house a classroom for a school.
We are anxious to explore additional ways we can work in these areas and will be interested in your thoughts. If you would like further information or have comments and/or suggestions, please feel free to contact US Hydropower (Debby Stone, Director Trade Promotion, Washington, DC, debbys@us-hydropower.org, tel. (202) 383-2536)
- United States Energy Association is hosting and interactive dialogue on the Asia Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate. Discussions will focus on how the APP programs can best support your organization’s efforts to invest in and transfer clean technologies and practices, including by providing funding to facilitate project development and help mitigate risks. If you would like further information about participation, please feel free to contact US Hydropower (Gourang Wakade, Program Assistant, Washington, DC, (Gourang Wakade, Program Assistant, Washington, DC, gwakade@gkrse-law.com, tel. (202) 408-5400)
Upcoming India Program Activities
- As part of its India Hydropower Initiative, US Hydropower has been working in key states in the emerging market in India to identify opportunities for and facilitate the development of hydropower projects. Over the last year, an advisory panel of experts was established and convened for an inaugural meeting by US Hydropower in New Delhi in November, 2006, to address from a national perspective barriers to development of hydropower. Following up on that session, US Hydropower is engaging in additional state-level roundtable consultations to identify and address the specific barriers to hydropower development in the respective state.
The Maharashtra state roundtable was held on January 19, 2007, in Mumbai. Interested state officials, stakeholders, experts and member company representatives participated in these consultations. The agenda included: identification and allotment of project sites, regulatory tariff policy, financing mechanisms and human resource development.
The Next Roundtable for the State of Himachal Pradesh is scheduled for the first week of march 2006. If you would like further information about participation in the roundtable, please feel free to contact US Hydropower (Gourang Wakade, Program Assistant, Washington, DC, (Gourang Wakade, Program Assistant, Washington, DC, gwakade@gkrse-law.com, tel. (202) 408-5400; or Dr. V. Bakthavatsalam, US Hydropower India Program Director, New Delhi vbakthavatsalam@hotmail.com; tel. 011-91-11-2469 5001
Upcoming Guatemala Program Activities
- US Hydropower met with representatives of The Nature Conservancy, Defensores de la Naturaleza, The ministry of Energy and Mines and NRECA to discuss their interest in forming a core group where all aspects of small hydroelectric projects are discussed/ addressed. This core group would then invite other participants to join and would promote the formation of a Round Table/ Forum for small hydroelectric generation. One of the activities of the Round Table/forum would be to organize an information/education program for communities in rural areas. The group would grow to include representation of all stakeholders in hydroelectric development and operation and would remain independent from direct participation in specific projects. Thus, the group would be a credible unbiased forum for discussion of general issues affecting hydroelectric development. This group could also help increase coordination between the various branches of government and could make recommendation for the integration of a small hydroelectric program with sustainable development programs.
US Hydropower will be participating in the initial discussions with these agencies regarding the small hydro program that would lead to the formation of the core group. Follow up on the initial conversations has been included in the work program for 2007. If you would like further information about participation in these discussions, please feel free to contact US Hydropower (Gourang Wakade, Program Assistant, Washington, DC, gwakade@gkrse-law.com, tel. (202) 408-5400; or Jorge Manrique, US Hydropower Guatemala Program Director, Guatemala City, Jorge.manrique49@gmail.com, tel. 011-502-2439-4511)
Update on India Delegation Visit
US Hydropower staff were in India for the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Panel of Experts for development of hydropower in India. The meeting of the panel was held on Wednesday November 15, 2006 in New Delhi, India. The panel focused on policy issues, finance mechanisms, and technical barriers to achieving the significant addition of hydropower capacity identified by the Government of India as necessary to meet growing energy demand and a critical need for peaking power. A report on the meeting is being finalized and will be forwarded to you shortly. For more information on the Advisory Panel of Experts, please contact Debby Stone, Director of Trade Promotion at debbys@us-hydropower.org or our India Program Director, Dr. V. Bakthavatsalam at vbakthavatsalam@hotmail.com
US Hydropower is planning workshops for stakeholders in India
In continuation with the US Hydropower’s India Program scheduled tasks, two more participatory workshops with stakeholders are planned for the key states of Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh in the months of January and February 2007. If you are interested in attending these workshops or have issues that need to be addressed during these workshops, please contact Debby Stone, Director of Trade Promotion at debbys@us-hydropower.org or our India Program Director, Dr. V. Bakthavatsalam at vbakthavatsalam@hotmail.com
Delegation from Southern African Countries visiting Washington, DC
US Hydropower has been asked to brief a USTDA-funded orientation visit on Monday December 4, 2006 from 10 Am to 2 PM to support a delegation of key decision makers from Southern African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, and Madagascar, on a visit to the United States. Member companies are invited to participate in this briefing.
The objective of the orientation visit is to expose the delegation to U.S. technologies, companies, policies, and practices in this sector. It will provide an excellent opportunity for the African delegates to interact with an extensive number of U.S. companies in the power sector. Please contact Debby Stone, Director of Trade Promotion at debbys@us-hydropower.org if you are interested in meeting the delegation.
US Hydropower in talks with two new Strategic Partners
This week Debby Stone met with the US Army Corp of Engineers to negotiate the formation of a new strategic partnership. The US Army Corps expressed their interest in supporting major goals of our public private sector partnership including promoting US companies, sustainable development, and energy security in the developing world. US Hydropower met with also met with the Nature Conservancy to further identify opportunities to collaborate on hydropower issues in key developing markets. US Hydropower is currently working on a draft Memorandum of Understanding and plans to work together in Central America initially. For more information, please contact Debby Stone, Director of Trade Promotion at debbys@us-hydropower.org
For More information on US Hydropower activities please contact
Ms. Debby Stone
Director of Trade Promotion
US Hydropower Council for International Development
1500 K Street NW #330
Washington, DC 20005
Tel 202.383.2536
Fax 202.408.5406
Email: debbys@us-hydropower.org