Description

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is investing $1.5 million in two activities in the Black Sea region to improve regional work on electricity transmission, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. One of these, the Black Sea Regulatory Initiative, is connecting regulators from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine with U.S. regulators from the Organization of Midwest States. This initiative is working with regional regulators to develop renewable energy guidelines, promote harmonized regulatory practices, and define their role in promoting price reforms and energy efficiency. The other activity is a new program to encourage a regional approach to electric transmission system planning, strengthen operations within regional transmission organizations, and develop a framework for sound investment in the transmission system. This program will reduce energy losses, integrate renewable energy projects into the power grid and facilitate cross-border trade in clean energy. Collectively, these activities will help create a positive enabling environment for low emission development and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the region.