The World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE), a not-for-profit, non-government institute located in Pune has drafted a Renewable Energy Law for the country. The initiative was taken by the founder Director General of WISE, G M Pillai, a senior IAS officer of Principal Secretary rank, who realized the urgent need for such a legislation to be put in place in the country. In his opinion, transition to sustainable energy sources is the best way to mitigate the ominous threat of climate change.

Why a Law for renewable energy one may ask? Does not the Electricity Act, 2003 sufficiently empower the renewable energy sector? Although the power of appropriate legislation to bring about change is amply demonstrated by the Electricity Act, 2003 – thus setting in motion a process of reform in the power sector – the Act addresses issues related to renewable power only marginally. The barriers to the development of renewable energy run across a wide spectrum. A comprehensive legislation aimed at removing these barriers and accelerating the development of renewable energy technologies is thus necessary. Although the government is committed to promoting the use of renewable energy sources, the commitment is not backed by legislation; it has remained confined to articulation of policy. It was this conviction and the institutional philosophy of striving for concrete action that spurred WISE to undertake the task of preparing a Model Renewable Energy Law for India, and pursue it to its logical conclusion viz. adoption by the Indian Parliament. To complement its in-house expertise in renewables with that in jurisprudence, WISE sought the help of the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, particularly of CEERA, the law school’s Centre for Environmental Law, Education, Research and Advocacy, to prepare the Draft Renewable Energy Law for India.

The draft R E Law was released in New Delhi in August 2005, in a seminar inaugurated by Mr Vilas Muttemwar, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India, and attended by eminent jurists like Justice Kuldip Singh. The outcome of the seminar was the constitution of a special working group who would work towards refining the draft law, based on the suggestions of the speakers at the seminar, individuals and organisations. The working group will also work out a strategy for advocacy of the legislation for its subsequent adoption by the parliament. The members comprise:

• Dr Pramod Deo, Chairman, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission as Chairman

• G M Pillai, Director General, WISE as Member Secretary

• Dr Anil Kane, President, World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) and Chairman, Indian Wind Energy Association (InWEA)

• Ramesh Kymal, Managing Director, Vestas Wind Technology India Pvt Ltd, Chennai

• Yogesh Mehra, Managing Director, Enercon (India) Ltd, Mumbai

• K Krishan, Chairman, Malavalli Power Plant (P) Ltd, Bangalore

• Dr M P Parameswaran, President, Bharatiya Gyan Vigyan Samiti

• Chintan Shah, Head, SenergyGlobal, New Delhi

• K Subramanya, Chief Operating Officer, TATA BP Solar India Ltd, Bangalore.

WISE’s R E Law initiative has gained wide support since its first seminar, both at national and international levels. A follow-up seminar was held in New Delhi in March 2007, which was supported by the Vienna based ‘Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership’ (REEEP), and their Renewable Energy and International Law (REIL) Project.. Encouraged by the response, WISE has declared 2007 as the ‘Year of the R.E. Law for India’. A nation-wide advocacy campaign is being launched. In continuation, WISE is now organising the third one-day southern regional seminar, ‘Towards a Renewable Energy Law for India’, on 24 August 2007 in Chennai. The event is once again supported by REEEP / REIL.