The proposed amendments to the Renewable Energy Act (REA) are good, but they are only the first step in facilitating renewable energy production by citizens and communities of citizens. This was made clear by the speeches and discussion at the XVI National Conference of the Association of Bulgarian Energy Agencies. The forum was attended by representatives of the project “Being Energy Independent”, implemented by the Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PCESD) and Green Laws.
Work is also needed to amend the regulations and structures that will be charged with implementing the law, the meeting made clear. These are also the next steps facing the ESMF and Green Laws.
The proposed legal amendments were presented as part of the topics “Energy Transition and Energy Poverty – Energy Communities – Legal Aspects in Bulgaria” by Christian Dimitrov from Greenpeace and “Proposals for Additional Legislative Changes” by Adv. The forum was held under the title “Energy Efficiency and RES – How to Meet the Challenges of Energy Transition and Energy Poverty”. It was attended by 50 representatives of the country’s active energy agencies. Ilian Iliev, Chairman of the OECSD, also participated, as part of the search for broader support for the amendments to the Renewable Energy Act in the 48th National Assembly.
All proposed texts in the law and accompanying regulations will be proposed to the Varna public and experts from the region during the annual civic forum “Democracy Conference”, which is traditionally held on the last weekend of February.
The advocacy campaign for energy independence of OCSD-Varna and Green Laws is conducted under the project “Being Energy Independent”, funded by the Active Citizens Bulgaria Fund under the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.