Obamas trip to India has not left the President empty-handed. He inked energy agreements in the Asian country, with the US and India agreeing to set up a green energy research and development center in India.
With each country funding $5 million for the next five years, the center is expected to focus on solar energy, energy efficiency, biofuels, clean coal technology and an integrated gasification combined cycle project that turns coal into synthesis gas.
The concept of such a center was first agreed upon during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's state visit to Washington last November.
It represents the U.S. government's second joint green energy research and development agreement, reached with China during Obama's visit to Beijing, which also occurred last November.
Speaking to India's Parliament Monday, Obama said, "We can pursue joint research and development to create green jobs; give India more access to cleaner, affordable energy; meet the commitments we made at Copenhagen and show the possibilities of low-carbon growth."
Obama's visit to India also marks the beginning of cooperation between the two countries on nuclear power.
"With my visit, we are now ready to begin implementing our civil nuclear agreement," Obama told Parliament. "This will help meet India's growing energy needs and create thousands of jobs in both of our countries."
