India to push green energy

India`s renewable energy sector is garnering attention as global and domestic power utilities are showing interest in investing in green energy following government directives and a proposed renewable energy portfolio standard.

Realizing that a change of mindset is needed at the policymaker level to promote green energy, the Indian government — in line with rich nations — has prescribed a renewable energy portfolio standard. Following its directives, state-run, private and global players have committed large amounts of money to green power, mainly wind.
‘A mindset change is what we require at the policymaker level and at the state electricity utilities level to promote renewable energy to minimize the use of fossil fuels,’ said Syed Azeez Pasha, a senior member of a government-backed expert committee on renewable energy.

He said that as the world expressed concern over climate change and its implications, it was important for Indian policymakers to actively push for green energy. He said incentives and the removal of investment hurdles would encourage the exploitation of renewable sources of energy.

Some of the biggest obstacles to these plans are the states, which fear a loss of their monopoly in power generation.

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