Ahmedabad, 19 April 2012

Presence of U.S. Consul General Peter Haas on the dais of inaugural function of Charnka Solar Park with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was significant. U.S. Consul General Peter Haas participated in the inauguration of the Charanka Solar Park in reference to the fact that four U.S. companies contributed to the solar park’s development, with support from U.S. Government agencies including the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade Development Agency.

Following is the full text of Consul General Peter Haas’s speech on the occasion:

[REMARKS AS PREPARED]

Consul General Peter Haas at Charanka Solar Park Inauguration on April 19, 2012

Honorable Chief Minister, Honorable Minister for Energy and Petrochemicals, Member of Legislative Assembly Choudhary, Honorable Chief Secretary, ladies and gentlemen:

It is an honor to be here this morning for the inauguration of the Gujarat Solar Park. I am proud of the fact that four U.S. companies – Azure Power, AES, SunEdison, and Universal Solar System – are participating in the development of this park. These companies offer the best of U.S. technology and know-how. I am also proud of the fact that three U.S. government agencies – the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the United States Export-Import Bank, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency – have provided financial support to this project.

The participation of the American private sector and U.S. government financing agencies is proof of the of the United States’ commitment to our clean energy partnership with India. It is also proof of our commitment to help India meet its rapidly growing energy needs.

The development of clean energy sources is crucial not only to development. It is also crucial to addressing climate change and energy security. With this in mind, President Obama and Prime Minister Singh launched the U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy in November 2009. This partnership is designed to accelerate the transition to high-performing, low-emission, and energy-secure economies. Outside the scope of government-to-government cooperation, U.S. companies – with their cutting-edge technologies and high-quality products – have invested and partnered with India in the clean energy sector.

The establishment of this 600 megawatt solar park in Gujarat is a reminder of how governments can create the right conditions and incentives for investment in clean energy. This innovative project will contribute to India’s energy requirements. It will create jobs in both our countries. And it will accomplish these tasks without generating any greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. government is partnering with U.S. and Indian companies on more than just the project being inaugurated here today. Last month, our U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed an agreement to support a private-sector feasibility effort for solar photovoltaic micro-grids. One of the two pilot designs will be for a rural off-grid site in Gujarat. Indeed, the U.S. Government’s total commitment to solar energy initiatives in Gujarat, is worth over half a billion dollars in finance, insurance and investment funds support. This figure includes both realized disbursements and the active pipeline of projects.

My presence here today – and the participation of U.S. companies in the Solar Park – demonstrates not only the U.S. commitment to India’s clean energy needs. It also underscores the United States’ ongoing engagement with the state of Gujarat. We are engaged on many levels here. The U.S. Foreign Commercial Service has had an office in Ahmedabad for the past fourteen years. Gujarat is home to the Western Region’s only American Corner. The consulate regularly conducts shops, speaker programs, documentary screenings, and youth and student outreach in Gujarat. This is my third visit to Gujarat since I became Consul General in August of last year.

And I hope to be able to participate in many more events like today’s in the coming years.

Thank you very much.