Pallone had last month introduced legislation-the Fair Energy Competition Act of 1999-to stress the use of renewable energy resources as a key component of the restructuring of the US domestic energy market. He has indicated he will work with the Department of Energy (DoE) to promote greater use of renewable resources internationally.

Although the DoE has not endorsed any particular electricity restructuring legislation, Richardson was on hand at a Capitol Hill press conference on July 20, to announce the introduction of Pallone's Fair Energy Competition Act. Pallonehad then stressed the energy secretary's willingness to work with the India caucus, both in his current capacity and earlier when he served as the US ambassador to the United Nations. The increased use of renewable energy resources is expected to be a top priority on the agenda of Richardson's visit to India, which is envisaged to be a catalyst to increase Indo-American energy cooperation.

Pallone, co-founder of the Congressional caucus on India, said Richardson's trip would be "particularly opportune" as it would follow the country's parliamentary elections "which are likely to set a new course for India."