International policies (and bases) for and against the use of alternative/

renewable energy sources

Renewable energy is energy produced from sources like the sun and wind that are naturally
replenished and do not run out. Renewable energy can be used for electricity generation, space
and water heating and cooling, and transportation.

Non-renewable energy, in contrast, comes from finite sources that could get used up, such as
fossil fuel like coal and oil.

Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, geothermal sources, sunlight, water, and wind,
are natural resources that can be converted into types of clean, usable energy.

BIOMASS: A RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE

Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from plant- and algae-based materials that
include:

 Crop wastes
 Forest residues
 Urban wood waste
 Purpose-grown grasses
 Food waste
 Woody energy crops
 Microalgae

Biomass is a versatile renewable energy source. It can be converted into liquid transportation
fuels that are equivalent to fossil-based fuels, such as gasoline, jet, and diesel fuel. Bioenergy
technologies enable the reuse of carbon from biomass and waste streams into reduced-
emissions fuels for cars, trucks, jets and ships; bioproducts; and renewable power.

Bioenergy is one of many diverse resources available to help meet our demand for energy. It is
a form of renewable energy that is derived from recently living organic materials known as
biomass, which can be used to produce transportation fuels, heat, electricity, and products.

WHAT IS A GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE?

Geothermal resources are reservoirs of hot water that exist at varying temperatures and depths
below the Earth's surface. Mile-or-more-deep wells can be drilled into underground reservoirs to
tap steam and very hot water that can be brought to the surface for use in a variety of
applications, including electricity generation, direct use, and heating and cooling. In the United
States, most geothermal reservoirs are located in the western states.

WHAT IS HYDROPOWER?

Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable
energy, which uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity.
Hydropower currently accounts for 31.5% of total U.S. renewable electricity generation and
about 6.3% of total U.S. electricity generation.

While most people might associate the energy source with the Hoover Dam—a huge facility
harnessing the power of an entire river behind its wall—hydropower facilities come in all
sizes. Some may be very large, but they can be tiny, too, taking advantage of water flows in
municipal water facilities or irrigation ditches. They can even be “damless,” with diversions or
run-of-river facilities that channel part of a stream through a powerhouse before the water
rejoins the main river. Whatever the method, hydropower is much easier to obtain and more
widely used than most people realize. In fact, all but two states (Delaware and Mississippi) use
hydropower for electricity, some more than others. For example, in 2020 about 66% of the state
of Washington’s electricity came from hydropower. 

HOW DOES HYDROPOWER WORK?

Hydropower technologies generate power by using the elevation difference, created by a

dam or diversion structure, of water flowing in on one side and out, far below, on the other.

WHAT IS MARINE ENERGY?

Marine energy, also known as marine and hydrokinetic energy or marine renewable energy, is a
renewable power source that is harnessed from the natural movement of water, including
waves, tides, and river and ocean currents. Marine energy can also be harnessed from
temperature differences in water through a process known as ocean thermal energy conversion.

The opportunities to harness marine energy are abundant. The total available marine energy
resource in the United States is equivalent to approximately 57% of all U.S. power generation
in 2019. Even if only a small portion of this technical resource potential is captured, marine
energy technologies would make significant contributions to the nation’s energy needs.
Researchers are testing and deploying new technologies with the goal of harnessing energy
from these plentiful water resources.

HOW DOES MARINE ENERGY WORK?

Marine energy technologies use the kinetic energy of waves, currents, tides, and thermal energy
of deep cold water to surface water conversion to generate clean energy. For example, some
wave energy converters use buoys to capture energy from the ocean’s vertical and horizontal
movement, while turbines can harness energy from tides and currents.

HOW DOES SOLAR WORK?

The amount of sunlight that strikes the earth's surface in an hour and a half is enough to handle
the entire world's energy consumption for a full year. Solar technologies convert sunlight into
electrical energy either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate
solar radiation. This energy can be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or
thermal storage.
WIND ENERGY BASICS

Once called windmills, the technology used to harness the power of wind has advanced
significantly over the past ten years, with the United States increasing its wind power capacity
30% year over year. Wind turbines, as they are now called, collect and convert the kinetic
energy that wind produces into electricity to help power the grid.

Wind energy is actually a byproduct of the sun. The sun’s uneven heating of the atmosphere,
the earth’s irregular surfaces (mountains and valleys), and the planet's revolution around the
sun all combine to create wind. Since wind is in plentiful supply, it’s a sustainable resource for
as long as the sun’s rays heat the planet.

Policies are a plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business,

intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters.

USA

Clean Power Plan

Serving as a key piece of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, the Clean Power Plan sets
goals for reducing the US's GHG emissions 32% by 2030 (which exceeds the US's COP21
NDC target of 26-28%). Under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, the US EPA established
interim and final CO2 emissions performance rates for two subcategories of fossil fuel-fired
electric generation units: Fossil fuel-fired electric steam generating units (generally, coal- and
oil-fired power plants); Natural gas-fired combined cycle generating units To maximize the range
of choices available to states in implementing the standards and to utilities in meeting them, the
EPA established interim and final statewide goals in three forms: A rate-based state goal
measured in pounds per megawatt hour (lb/MWh); A mass-based state goal measured in total
short tons of CO2; A mass-based state goal with a new source complement measured in total
short tons of CO2. States then develop and implement plans that ensure that the power plants
in their state - either individually, together or in combination with other measures - achieve the
interim CO2 emissions performance rates over the period of 2022 to 2029 and the final CO2
emission performance rates, rate-based goals or mass-based goals by 2030. Through the best
system of emissions reduction available, the rule determined three "Building Blocks" for states
to achieve the interim and final emissions reductions targets. These blocks are: Building Block
1: reducing the carbon intensity of electricity generation by improving the heat rate of existing
coal-fired power plants; Building Block 2: substituting increased electricity generation from
lower-emitting existing natural gas plants for reduced generation from higher-emitting coal fired
power plants; Building Block 3: substituting increased electricity generation from new zero-
emitting renewable energy sources (like wind and solar) for reduced generation from existing
coal-fired power plants. Once the state has developed a plan to reduce emissions and the EPA
issues approval, the state has 15 years for full implementation. Within the time frame, there will
be three interim goals that the states must meet to ensure compliance with the final emissions
reduction goal. On February 9, 2016, the Supreme Court stayed implementation of the Clean
Power Plan pending judicial review. On October 10, 2018, EPA proposed to repeal the Clean
Power Plan, after completing a thorough review as directed by the Energy Independence
Executive Order.

Biden-Harris administration policy on renewable energy sources (in summary: FOR)

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Races to Deploy Clean Energy

that Creates Jobs and Lowers Costs
When President Biden came into office nearly a year ago, he pulled every lever to position
America to scale up clean energy that creates good-paying, union jobs and lowers energy bills
for consumers. Since then, the Biden-Harris Administration has readied offshore areas to
harness power from wind, approved new solar projects on public lands, and passed the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build thousands of miles of transmission lines that deliver clean
energy.
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is making major leaps forward on wind, solar,
transmission, and other clean energy projects to create high-quality jobs and deliver affordable,
carbon pollution-free electricity across the country. Seven federal agencies are announcing
clean energy projects and plans that demonstrate the Administration’s unwavering commitment
to creating cleaner and cheaper energy, and the actions showcase President Biden’s
unprecedented coordination activating the entire government to fight climate change, produce
good-paying, union jobs, and accelerate America’s clean energy economy.
These actions include:

The Department of the Interior is holding a record-breaking offshore wind lease sale, with the
most lease areas ever offered, in the New York Bight off the coasts of New York and New
Jersey. The upcoming lease sale is projected to generate up to 7 gigawatts (GW) of clean
energy, power two million homes, and create thousands of jobs in manufacturing, construction,
operations, maintenance, and service industries in nearby communities. The sale includes
innovative lease provisions that will lead to offshore wind projects being built with union labor
and Made in America materials. Working together, New York, New Jersey and the federal
government will build on these new lease stipulations through a new federal-state partnership
that will ensure local residents—including underserved communities—benefit from new
developments.

A number of agencies are working together to drive the rapid build-up of offshore wind—a brand
new U.S. clean energy industry that can create nearly 80,000 good-paying jobs by 2030. For
example, the Department of Transportation recently announced port investments to help
develop areas that will be used to build and stage offshore wind turbine components, and efforts
are underway across the Departments of Commerce, the Interior, and Energy to promote
biodiversity and cooperative ocean use and support innovation across the supply chain.

The Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and the Environmental
Protection Agency are forming a new collaboration to improve the efficiency and effectiveness
of reviews of clean energy projects on public lands, in order to expand solar, onshore wind, and
geothermal energy, building on the Department of the Interior’s approvals over the past year of
18 onshore projects that will deliver 4.175 GW of clean energy.

The Department of Energy is launching a new Building a Better Grid initiative to accelerate the
deployment of new transmission lines—as enabled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—to
connect more Americans to cleaner, cheaper energy. This transmission buildout will make our
grid more reliable and resilient in the face of intensifying extreme weather and is critical to
achieving the President’s goal of 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035.

To ensure that these benefits reach all Americans, the Department of Agriculture is creating a
new pilot program to support clean energy in underserved rural communities and the
Department of Commerce is awarding American Rescue Plan funds to support regional
coalitions to grow new industry clusters focused on clean energy deployment and job training.
And the release of a new report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that the
Administration’s SolarAPP+ tool is reducing permitting times for residential installations to less
than one day, helping local governments fast-track rooftop solar. 

Today’s announcements build on a year of unprecedented progress on clean energy

deployment. Before President Biden took office, projects were stalled and agencies were
hollowed out. But during his first week, the President issued an Executive Order on Tackling the
Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, which mobilized the entire federal government to activate
and deploy clean energy so that Americans can reap the immense climate and economic
benefits of the clean energy future.

The Administration continues to use every tool available to deploy clean energy at a record
pace. But to fully seize the opportunities of a clean energy economy, President Biden is
pressing forward on passing the Build Back Better Act. The historic legislation will amount to the
nation’s largest investment in combatting climate change, lowering energy costs for working
families, and building a clean energy future. It will support domestic manufacturing of wind
turbines, solar panels, and other clean technologies; invest in workforce development programs
to launch careers in these growing industries; and provide a historic set of clean energy tax
credits that are more powerful and accessible. With these investments, the U.S. will lead the
world on innovative climate solutions and save the average American family hundreds of dollars
each year in energy costs.

As work continues to pass the Build Back Better Act, today’s announcements further the
Administration’s ongoing commitment to powering our economy with clean American energy:

ADVANCING OFFSHORE WIND TO CREATE JOBS

To deploy offshore wind at the speed and scale necessary to achieve our climate goals and
create tens of thousands of jobs, the Administration is announcing:

Record-Breaking Lease Sale in the New York Bight. Last year, the Administration established a
Wind Energy Area in the New York Bight off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. Today,
the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is announcing
the Final Sale Notice of six commercial lease areas—the most ever offered—with the potential
to generate 5.6 to 7 GW of clean energy across 488,201 acres. Innovative leasing provisions
will encourage winning bidders to enter into Project Labor Agreements (PLA) that support union
jobs. They also will financially incentivize lessees to utilize wind turbine blades, towers, and
cables made in America. To promote meaningful stakeholder engagement, lessees must
identify any Tribes, ocean users, underserved communities, and others potentially affected by
projects and report on engagement activities.  

New State-Federal Partnership. Today, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland joined New York
Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to celebrate progress in the New
York Bight and announce a new collaboration between BOEM, New York, and New Jersey on
offshore wind with a focus on job creation and environmental justice. Through a new shared
vision and working group, these partners will work together on strengthening regional supply
chains and delivering benefits to underserved communities.
 

DOT Port Investments for Manufacturing and Staging Hubs. The Department of Transportation
(DOT) recently awarded Port Infrastructure Development Program Grants to two hubs that will
strengthen the U.S. offshore wind supply chain. In Virginia, the Portsmouth Marine Terminal will
receive $20 million to construct staging and storage areas for wind turbine components—
supporting union jobs for dockworkers, crane operators, and building trades members. In New
York, the Port of Albany will receive $29.5 million for the Offshore Wind Tower Manufacturing
Port Project, which will develop vacant areas along the Hudson River for a first-of-its-kind U.S.
facility for fabrication and assembly of offshore wind towers, creating hundreds of jobs in
construction, manufacturing, and maritime activities. DOT announced in March 2021 that this
discretionary port funding would be available to support offshore wind activities, and that climate
and environmental justice considerations would factor into the review process. The Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law significantly increases funding for the Port Infrastructure Development
Program Grants to expand federal investments in ports.

Funding for Innovative Supply Chain and Maintenance Projects. The National Offshore Wind
Research and Development Consortium is awarding over $3 million to six offshore wind R&D
projects, bringing total investment through NOWRDC over the past year to $14 million. The
competitive awards will fund three new supply chain projects to facilitate U.S. manufacturing,
ensure quality component production, and simplify transportation of major wind plant
components. Three additional projects will support asset monitoring and inspection to reduce
operational costs for offshore wind farms. The NOWRDC was established in 2018 with a $20.5
million Department of Energy (DOE) investment and matching funds from the New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), with follow-on contributions from
state agencies in Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Jersey—all resulting in
approximately $48 million in committed funds.
 

NOAA-BOEM Memorandum of Understanding. The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and BOEM are entering an interagency agreement to
collaboratively advance offshore wind energy while protecting biodiversity and promoting
cooperative ocean use. This partnership underscores NOAA and BOEM’s commitment to
leverage their resources and expertise to responsibly deploy 30 GW by 2030 in a way that
protects environmental quality, creates jobs, and advances environmental justice.
 

DOE Report Underscoring Need for Continued Offshore Wind Investment. The Department of
Energy will be issuing a report on “Offshore Wind Energy Strategies: Regional and National
Strategies to Maximize the Effectiveness, Reliability, and Sustainability of U.S. Offshore Wind
Energy Development and Operation.” It outlines five strategic priorities for tapping into the
enormous potential for growth and job creation in the offshore wind industry: expanding targeted
federal incentives, reducing costs through innovation, improving siting and permitting processes,
investing in supply chain development, and facilitating grid integration of offshore wind projects.
The President’s Build Back Better Act would advance these priorities with expanded investment
and production tax credits for offshore wind deployment, advanced manufacturing credits to
incentivize Made in America wind turbine components, and investments across transmission
planning, port infrastructure, and improved leasing and permitting processes.

These actions follow a year of interagency collaboration to jumpstart the U.S. offshore wind
industry—in 2021, the Administration: 

Launched an offshore wind strategy to achieve a new national target of deploying 30 GW by

2030 and create jobs up and down the supply chain, from factories in the heartland to shipyards
on the coasts.

Approved the nation’s first two commercial-scale offshore wind projects, Vineyard Wind 1
and South Fork Wind, which will be built by a highly skilled, well-paid union workforce. 

Developed a roadmap for holding seven offshore wind lease sales and completing reviews of 16
multi-billion dollar offshore wind projects—representing 22 GW of clean energy—by 2025.

Moving ahead in 2022, BOEM will conduct reviews of wind energy areas offshore northern
California (Humboldt) and central California (Morro Bay); explore new potential Wind Energy
Areas in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coasts of Oregon and the central Atlantic; and advance
lease sales in the Carolina Long Bay and offshore California.

FAST-TRACKING CLEAN ENERGY ONSHORE

America’s public lands have substantial potential to support solar, wind, and geothermal energy
projects. As part of ongoing efforts to advance these projects in an environmentally sound way
and in close collaboration with community stakeholders, the Administration is announcing:

Five-Agency Collaboration to Expedite Reviews. The Departments of the Interior, Agriculture,

Defense, Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency have issued a new Memorandum of
Understanding to improve federal agency coordination and prioritize reviews for renewable
energy projects located on public lands managed by the Interior and Agriculture Departments.
This collaboration will expedite decision-making by establishing interagency coordination teams
with qualified staff to facilitate environmental reviews and other federal reviews.

Renewable Energy Coordination Offices. The Department of the Interior is developing plans for
new Renewable Energy Coordination Offices (RECOs), authorized by the Energy Act of 2020.
The RECOs will realign Bureau of Land Management resources to consolidate renewable
energy work, and support collaboration on public lands renewable energy project permitting
across Interior and other federal agencies.

Major Progress toward 25 GW by 2025. Since President Biden took office, the Administration
has approved 18 onshore projects totaling 4.175 GW (including eight located on public lands
and ten with interconnection lines on public lands) and initiated processing of another 54 priority
projects with the potential to add at least 27.5 GW of clean energy. Most recently, the Bureau of
Land Management approved the Arica and Victory Pass solar projects in California, which will
provide up to 465 megawatts of electricity with up to 400 megawatts of battery storage. With
today’s actions, the Administration will continue advancing toward the goal of permitting 25 GW
of solar, onshore wind, and geothermal energy on public lands by 2025.

BUILDING CLEAN TRANSMISSION LINES

The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest-ever investment in America’s power
grid, including funding to build out thousands of miles of new transmission lines that are critical
to unlocking clean energy resources and providing American homes, schools, and businesses
with electricity that is more affordable and reliable in the face of extreme weather, wildfires, and
other disasters. 

To harness the new funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, today the Department of
Energy is announcing a coordinated transmission deployment program, which will catalyze
nationwide buildout of long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines. As outlined in a new
Notice of Intent, the pillars of the “Building a Better Grid” initiative are:

Financing transmission lines and other grid upgrades, including through the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law’s new $2.5 billion Transmission Facilitation Program, a revolving fund for
new, replacement, or upgraded transmission lines; $3 billion expansion of the Smart Grid
Investment Grant Program, focused on advanced technologies that increase capacity and
enhance flexibility of the existing grid; and more than $10 billion in grants for states, Tribes, and
utilities to enhance grid resilience and prevent power outages. DOE will also leverage existing
financing, including the $3.25 billion Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Transmission
Infrastructure Program, which facilitates deployment of renewable energy in WAPA’s 15-state
service territory, and a number of loan guarantee programs through the Loan Programs Office.  

Strengthening coordination with state and local governments, Tribal nations, and other
stakeholders, including through participation in regional convenings with independent system
operators (ISOs), regional transmission organizations (RTOs), state regulatory commissions,
utilities, and others.
Modernizing transmission planning to drive investment to the highest-need projects, including
through a new National Transmission Planning Study, National Transmission Needs Study,
Offshore Wind Transmission Study, and expanded technical assistance to help states and
regions with policy implementation.

Improving permitting processes, in coordination with the Infrastructure Implementation Task

Force and other federal initiatives, including by helping developers provide early information to
permitting agencies; using public-private partnerships to advance new transmission lines and
system upgrades; and designating National Corridors in areas with transmission capacity
constraints that harm consumers.

Supporting research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of next-generation transmission

technology, including through collaborations with the National Laboratories and industry
partners.

Last year, the Administration laid the foundation for these efforts by revitalizing Department of
Energy transmission financing assistance programs and through Department of Transportation
actions to help states host transmission lines along public highways and other transportation
rights-of-way.
DELIVERING BENEFITS TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

The Administration has prioritized clean energy deployment in rural communities, providing

financing for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install solar arrays and other
clean energy infrastructure and for grid upgrades across rural areas. To build on these
investments, the Department of Agriculture is creating a new Rural Energy Pilot Program with
$10 million in available grants for rural communities that are particularly underserved to deploy
community-scale clean energy technologies, innovations, and solutions. This upcoming pilot
program will also help economically distressed rural communities conduct community energy
planning to advance local goals for clean, affordable, and reliable power.

Additionally, President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is driving historic economic recovery from
the pandemic—including by helping communities create new jobs and industries in clean
energy. The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently
announced the finalists for Phase 1 of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, which uses
American Rescue Plan funds to support regional industry clusters that will promote equitable
economic growth and workforce development. The finalists include 14 regional coalitions
focused on clean energy and other climate-related industries, which will receive a combined $7
million in planning grants and compete to win awards of $25 million to $100 million for
implementation. Among these finalists are projects to reuse abandoned mine lands for solar,
wind, and geothermal energy generation; utilize offshore wind as a power source for hydrogen
production in industrial areas; and support clean energy job training, entrepreneurship, and
innovation in areas historically dependent on fossil fuel economies.

The Administration is also helping local governments speed up approvals for rooftop solar in
order to unlock economic and health benefits for their communities. In July 2021, the
Department of Energy launched the Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+) tool, an
online platform that enables jurisdictions to rapidly approve residential solar installation permits.
Now, a new report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that in a pilot
conducted in Arizona and California, the SolarAPP+ tool reduced the average permit review
time to less than one day. More than 125 localities have already signed up to consider using
SolarAPP+, and the Department of Energy is continuing to recruit additional communities
across the country.  

The Build Back Better Framework

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S PLAN TO REBUILD THE MIDDLE CLASS

President Joe Biden believes that there’s no greater economic engine in the world than the hard
work and ingenuity of the American people. But for too long, the economy has worked great for
those at the top, while working families get squeezed. President Biden promised to rebuild the
backbone of the country – the middle class – so that this time everyone comes along. The Build
Back Better Framework does just that.

This framework will set the United States on course to meet its climate goals, create millions of
good-paying jobs, enable more Americans to join and remain in the labor force, and grow our
economy from the bottom up and the middle out.

The most transformative investment in children and caregiving in generations:

 Offers universal and free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, the largest
expansion of universal and free education since states and communities across
the country established public high school 100 years ago.
 Makes the largest investment in child care in the nation’s history, saving most
American families more than half of their spending on child care.
 Delivers affordable, high-quality care for older Americans and people with
disabilities in their homes, while supporting the workers who provide this care.
 Provides 39 million households up to $3,600 (or $300 per month) in tax cuts per
child by extending the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit.

The largest effort to combat climate change in American history:

 Delivers substantial consumer rebates and tax credits to reduce costs for middle
class families shifting to clean energy and electrification.
 Ensures clean energy technology – from wind turbine blades to solar panels to
electric cars – will be built in the United States with American made steel and
other materials, creating hundreds of thousands of good jobs here at home.
 Advances environmental justice through a new Clean Energy and Sustainability
Accelerator that will invest in projects around the country, while delivering 40% of
the benefits of investment to disadvantaged communities, as part of the
President’s Justice40 initiative.
 Bolsters resilience and natural solutions to climate change through a historic
investment in coastal restoration, forest management, and soil conservation.
The biggest expansion of affordable health care in a decade:

 Reduces prescription drug costs.

 Strengthens the Affordable Care Act and reduces premiums for 9
Million Americans.
 Closes the Medicaid Coverage Gap, Leading 4 Million Uninsured People to Gain
Coverage.
 Expands Medicare to cover hearing benefits.

The most significant effort to bring down costs and strengthen the middle class in
generations:

 Makes the single largest and most comprehensive investment in affordable

housing in history.
 Extends the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for around 17 million low-
wage workers.
 Expands access to affordable, high-quality education beyond high school.
 Promotes nutrition security to support children’s health.
 Strengthens the middle class through a historic investment in equity, safety,
and fairness.
 Invests in immigration reform.

The Build Back Better framework is fully paid for:

Combined with savings from repealing the Trump Administration’s rebate rule, the plan is fully
paid for by asking more from the very largest corporations and the wealthiest Americans. The
2017 tax cut delivered a windfall to them, and this would help reverse that—and invest in the
country’s future. No one making under $400,000 will pay a penny more in taxes.

Specifically, the framework:

 Stops large, profitable corporations from paying zero in tax and tax corporations
that buyback stock rather than invest in the company.
 Stops rewarding corporations for shipping jobs and profits overseas.
 Asks the highest income Americans to pay their fair share.
 Invests in enforcing our existing tax laws, so the wealthy pay what they owe.

GERMANY
Germany's Renewables Energy Act
As of 14 December 2020, Germany's ruling coalition agreed modifications to its energy law to
create the legal basis for continuing the expansion of renewable energy in the long term and
help the country meet its goal of producing 65% of its electricity from clean sources from 2030.

The law came into force as of 1 January 2021. It seeks to help ensure that both electricity
supply and electricity consumption become carbon-neutral before 2050. To this end, the law
specifies the pace at which sustainable energy such as wind and photovoltaics are to be
expanded over the next few years.

For the first time, the 2021 Renewable Energy Sources Act provides for annual monitoring,
which can be used to make adjustments if necessary. Germany’s renewable energy levy, the
surcharge in consumers’ electricity bills that goes to support renewables, will be EUR 0.065
(USD 0.077) per kWh next year, reduced from EUR 0.06756 in 2020. Average households will
see power prices fall by 1%. German consumers can look forward to lower energy bills next
year after a reduction in a surcharge they pay to support renewable power. The transmission
grid companies -- which include Elia’s 50Hertz, Dutch Tennet, EnBW’s Transnet BW and
Amprion -- said the cap on the surcharge at 6.5 cents would require 10.8 billion euros of federal
support payments.

The government also decided that the fee would fall further to 6.0 cents in 2022 to relieve
customers from cost burdens in the fight against the economic fallout from the coronavirus. The
Federal Cabinet passed the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act, the so-called
EEG amendment 2021. The amendment to the Federal Requirements Plan Act with regulations
on the expansion of the electricity grid was also passed in the cabinet.

Update 26 November 2021:

In order to meet its renewable energy targets, the Federation and the Länder established a new
Bund/Länder Cooperation Committee under the Renewable Energy Sources Act.

According to a new report published by the Federation and the Länder, the targets are not to be
fulfilled if new wind-power projects are not approved. The amount of land dedicated to onshore
wind farms is not sufficient to meet the 2030 target, which amounts to 71 GW of installed
capacity and for annual auction volumes.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier administration policy on renewable energy sources (in summary:

Bases:

ICELAND
 Iceland Climate Change Strategy
In February 2007, the Icelandic government released "Iceland’s Climate Change Strategy",
which superseded the country’s 2002 Climate Change Strategy (itself the second Icelandic
climate change strategy). This strategy is conceived as a framework for action and government
involvement in climate change issues, and sets forth a long-term aspirational goal of
reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 50-75% of 1990 levels by the year 2050.
The strategy emphasizes the reduction of emissions by the most economical means, including
the introduction of new technology, economic measures, carbon sequestration, and the ficing of
measures adopted in other countries. Among the principal objectives of the strategy are the
following: -

 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a special emphasis on reducing the use of fossil
fuels in favour of renewable energy sources and climate-friendly fuels;
 and - fostering research and innovation in fields related to climate change affairs and promoting
the exportation of Icelandic expertise in fields related to renewable energy and climate-friendly
technology.

In meeting these objectives, the government will, among other actions:

 prioritize research on the feasibility of pumping carbon dioxide from geothermal power plants
back into the earth;
 place increased emphasis on the exportation of technology and know-how in fields related to
the utilization of renewable energy resources;
 examine whether Iceland or Icelandic companies could engage in projects under the Clean
Development Mechanism concerning geothermal energy or other climate-friendly technologies.

General country policy on renewable energy sources (in summary: FOR and NO EXPLOIT)

How much renewable energy does Iceland use?

Iceland uses approximately 85% of renewable energy. Only 15% of the share comes from fuel
fossils, and it is used within the transportation industry mainly. However, it is essential to
differentiate consumption from production. In Iceland, energy production comes basically from
geothermal energy, hydropower, and wind power.

A fact that astonished the viewers, and that included Zac Efron too, was that Iceland covers the
of 99.9% of the electricity and heating needs of its population with renewable energy. That is,
without using fossil fuels.

Iceland and the geothermal activity.

The nickname of “The land of fire and ice” is a fantastic summary of what one can find in this
land. Iceland was formed right where two tectonic plates abut: The North American and the
Eurasian. Right in the middle is the mid-Atlantic ridge, which directly translates into geothermal
activity and volcanoes.
Icelandic soil is continuously changing and moving. And that is something that we can see
clearly in our landscape every day. The geysers? They are produced by geothermal activity.
The hot springs? They are warm, thanks to geothermal activity as well. The volcanoes? Well,
we all get the point, don’t we? Even the impressive Blue Lagoon is the result of geothermal
energy!

But hey, not everything is perfect and fantastic either; Did you know that Iceland is being torn
apart as the tectonic plates drift away? They do so at a rate of 1 inch per year. That is 15 miles
in a million years! Well, okay, we won’t be able to see Iceland split in two, but you can always go
to Thingvellir National Park to see the deep fissure and walk between two continents without
having to take a plane. So I guess it is not as bad as it may seem, at least not right now.

How is renewable energy used in Iceland?

Well, one of the primary uses is, of course, electricity. It is used for food, houses, shops, and
industries. 70% of the energy comes from hydroelectric power; that is, the power of Icelandic
rivers and waterfalls is used to obtain clean energy.

As we all know, Iceland is not exactly the Caribbean, so during the wintertime, our houses need
heating. All that heating comes from geothermal energy, something that saves about 4 million
tons of CO2 annually.

Another reasonably necessary use is that of hot water. And it is famous because everyone who
visits Iceland comments that warm water has a particular smell of “rotten eggs.” This smell
luckily does not stay on the skin, and honestly, it is not as strong as many say. Maybe I’m just
used to it.

This water comes from geothermal sources, which are rich in Sulphur, an element that produces
that characteristic odor.

Geothermal Bakery in Iceland

This is a remote island, with somewhat limited sources. That means we need to take advantage
of whatever mother nature offers us. And we happen to have plenty of warmth under our feet.
Our ancestors knew about this and decided to make the most out of it. The result? A delicious
and unique bread that won’t add a cent to your energy bill.

Why? you may ask yourself. Well, you don’t need an electric oven to bake it. You just need to
dig a hole in a geothermally active area and tada! You got your bread freshly baked in lava!

This traditional Icelandic bread is called hverabraud or Icelandic rye bread. It is quite dense,
dark, and somewhat sweet. We serve it with butter, smoked lamb or pickled herring etc. In
contrast to the average bread, hverabraud is buried underneath the ground, where it is baked by
the heat of nearby hot springs for 24 hours.

Renewable Energy in Iceland

In Iceland, we are fortunate to have nature on our side. However, we have also learned as a
society to conserve it and find ways to be more efficient. All this, without harming the
environment too much.

I understand that not all countries have this immense amount of water or geothermal resources,
but they surely have other options that they can use that we in Iceland do not. Like sunlight, for
instance. That is why we need to realize that there are better ways to obtain energy. And even if
the change is not overnight, we are in the direction of making one!

Bases:

JAPAN

Strategic Energy Plan (2014)

In April 2014, the Cabinet of Japanese government formulated the “Strategic Energy
Plan.” This plan is the basis for the orientation of Japan’s new energy policy, considering
the dramatic changes in energy environments inside and outside Japan, including those
caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent accidents at TEPCO’s
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Key points of this plan are:
1. Issues related to the energy supply-demand structure in Japan
The Strategic Energy Plan reviews the energy policy issues of Japan and effects remaining of
Fukushima Nuclear Accident.
2. Basic policy regarding measures concerning energy supply and demand
Confirming the basic view point of the energy policy (Energy Security, Economic Efficiency,
Environment and Safety), this plan aims to build a multilayered and diversified flexible energy
supply-demand structure. And it defines the position of each energy source in the primary
structure and its policy direction.
3. Long-term measures regarding energy supply and demand
(1) Promotion of comprehensive policy toward securing stable supply of resources
(2) Realization of an advanced energy-saving society and smart and flexible consumer activities
(3) Accelerating the introduction of renewable energy: Toward achieving grid parity over the
mid- to long-term
(4) Re-establishment of the nuclear energy policy including restoration of Fukushima
(5) Efficient and stable use of fossil fuels
(6) Promotion of reforms in the supply structure to remove market barriers
(7) Enhancing resilience of the domestic energy supply networks
(8) Future of the secondary energy structure such as hydrogen that contributes to stable supply
and global warming countermeasures
(9) Creating comprehensive energy companies through market integration and executing a
growth strategy centering on energy
(10) Comprehensive international energy cooperation
4. Promotion of strategic technology development
This plan formulates a roadmap for intensive R&D of energy-related technologies that are
needed to implement measures related to energy supply and demand in a comprehensive and
systematic manner in the long-term.
5. Communications with all levels of the society and deepning of energy-related
understanding
It is necessary to promote public understanding for long-term, comprehensive and systematic
implementation of energy policy.

Fumio Kishida administration policy on renewable energy sources (in summary: FOR)

In advance of COP27 next month, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s administration is pursuing a
mix of old and new energy sources to meet Japan’s obligations under the 2015 Paris
Agreement, in which nations agreed to limit global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius
by mid-century.

It’s not yet clear what specific proposals the Japanese government will bring to the key U.N.
climate conference. Before last year’s COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Prime Minister Yoshihide
Suga, Kishida’s predecessor, announced that Japan would pursue a 46% cut in greenhouse
gas emissions compared to 2013 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The
target was a sharp increase from 26%, what the world’s fifth-biggest emitter pledged in 2015.

The Kishida government’s climate change policy is essentially a continuation of the one
supported by Suga, offering little that is new in terms of energy proposals to meet the Paris
goals — with one important exception. Kishida, who attended COP26 after Suga’s resignation,
is willing to consider the construction of advanced technology nuclear reactors, whose
commercialization is many years away.

That has experts warning that Japan's carbon reduction strategy is not in line with the goals of
the Paris Agreement, as it relies on unproven technologies to reduce emissions.

New tech
Domestically, the prime minister’s strategy relies not only on expanding renewable energy,
especially offshore wind, and restarting conventional nuclear power plants but also proposed
emerging technologies like smaller nuclear reactors, carbon capture and storage, and the use of
ammonia and hydrogen.

“The Kishida administration basically continues the position of Suga, which is that aiming at
carbon neutrality would contribute to economic growth," says Yasuko Kameyama, a professor
with the Sustainable Society Design Center at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of
Frontier Sciences. "He emphasizes that innovative technologies would revitalize Japan’s
economy.”

According to Kameyama, Suga urged Kishida's government to continue promoting hydrogen,

ammonia and related technologies.
At the heart of this effort is Kishida’s Green Transformation strategy, also known as GX.
Overseen by industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and a government advisory panel of
business experts, the policy project was launched in July to advise on the energy policy of the
next decade. With a budget of ¥20 trillion — which will likely be raised via the issuance of green
transition bonds — GX will address Japan's future energy sources. The goal is to secure a
stable supply of power while still reaching carbon neutrality.

Mixed energy sources

Like Suga's plan, the Green Transformation is based on meeting the goals of Japan’s energy
mix target for 2030.

The plan will see renewable energy sources provide 36% to 38% of Japan’s total energy by
2030, while nuclear power will provide 20% to 22%, LNG 20% and coal 19%. Oil (2%) and
hydrogen and ammonia (1%) will account for the rest. Kishida’s GX panel will keep that mix in
mind as well as the 2030 and 2050 carbon reduction goals, and plans to deliver a final report on
its deliberations by the end of the year.

Then-Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (left) attends an anti-global warming government task
force meeting in Tokyo on April 22, 2021, unveiling Japan’s policy of aiming to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 46% from fiscal 2013 levels by fiscal 2030. The goal represents a
significant increase from Japan’s previous commitment for a 26% cut.

Internationally, Japan is making efforts to help others in Asia decarbonize, particularly countries
like Indonesia and Vietnam, where coal accounts for 60% of the energy mix in the case of the
former and 50% in the case of the latter. This is being done through the Asia Energy Transition
Initiative, announced in May 2021 by Suga. It’s a roadmap toward decarbonization in ASEAN
countries in particular, leveraging Japanese environmental technology, systems and know-how.

“Japan will work on advancing decarbonization and enhancing resilience, seeing clearly the
varying realities of Asian countries, while realizing their sustainable economic growth,” Kishida
told U.S. President Joe Biden and others at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate
Leaders Meeting in June.

At this year's Group of Seven summit in Germany, member nations including Japan committed
to a predominantly — but not entirely — decarbonized domestic power sector by 2035. Under
the plan, coal use and overseas financing would not be stopped entirely. G7 nations were
criticized for adding that they would commit to end new direct public support for the international
fossil fuel sector by the end of this year, but with the exception of limited circumstances that
were clearly defined by each country consistent with a 1.5 degree global warming limit.

Unproven technologies
Kishida’s green plan, however, faces criticism from experts who warn it relies too much on
future technological developments at a time when all nations need to immediately take serious
steps in order limit the Earth’s average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by midcentury.
For offshore wind farms, also a policy of Suga’s, the locations under consideration for the
turbines are raising concerns. Many are located near remote towns along the Sea of Japan
coast, far from major, energy-hungry urban centers like Tokyo and Osaka. This has prompted
questions about generating electricity and transmitting it at a price that is competitive with other
energy forms.

The Hekinan thermal power station in Aichi Prefecture is the largest coal-fired power station in
Japan. | REUTERS

Kishida differs from former Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe and Suga in his appeal to consider small
modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) as a way to help decarbonize Japan. Compared to large,
conventional reactors, SMRs are designed to take less time to construct and generate less
waste.

But there are no commercial SMRs in operation at present and it's unclear just how long it
would take the government to approve a design, select locations and then actually build them.
It’s also uncertain whether the construction and operational costs of SMRs — including waste
disposal outlays — would make them economically competitive with current renewable energy
sources, LNG, or conventional nuclear reactors.

Fossil fuel energy sources, particularly coal, remain a key part of Japan's energy mix now and
going forward — much to the chagrin of environmentalists and climate scientists. To reduce
emissions in order to meet the Paris goal of limiting global warming to under 2 degrees, the
Kishida government, like the predecessor governments of Suga and Abe, is proposing that
fossil fuel plants operate with carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture, usage and
storage (CCUS) technologies that would take emissions out of the air and either bury them or
turn them into synthetic, more environmentally friendly fuels. By 2050, the Ministry of Economy,
Trade, and Industry predicts the global market to support carbon capture and utilization
technologies will be between ¥10 trillion and ¥12 trillion.

But the technology is unproven. A September report by the Institute for Energy Economics and
Financial Analysis studied 13 carbon capture projects that comprise about 55% of the total
nominal capture capacity operating worldwide and showed that 10 were failing or
underperforming, mostly by large margins. The report recommends further technological
research in different industries and business environments before determining whether CCS or
CCUS technology make economic and environmental sense as a decarbonization solution.

Remodeling existing coal plants — so they can be co-fired with ammonia as a way to reduce
carbon emissions — is another policy under consideration. A pilot project is under way at an
Aichi thermal power station to achieve an ammonia co-firing rate of 20% by the 2024 fiscal year.

While co-firing coal with ammonia relies on existing technologies, a September Bloomberg NEF
report on Japan’s ammonia efforts pointed to other problems. It concluded that carbon dioxide
emissions from a coal power plant burning ammonia at a co-firing ratio of below 50% still emits
as much carbon dioxide as a natural gas turbine. In addition, co-firing ammonia may also emit
more nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.
 Even the business community pushing for investment in new carbon reduction technologies in
Japan admits that they may not be able to come online quickly, given the need to meet the 2050
carbon neutrality goal. To achieve that goal, Japan Business Federation head Masakazu Tokura
called for a smooth transition to carbon neutrality by utilizing, as much as possible, the best
available technologies now.

“Technologies to capture and separate carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise be
emitted are needed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This will require the development of
innovative technologies which do not exist today. We cannot jump from the present to carbon
neutrality in a single leap. Some innovations will succeed and some will fail,” he said.

Bases:

PHILIPPINES

Renewable Energy Act

The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 provides the legal and institutional framework
necessary for harmonizing policies on the development of renewable energy technologies. The
Act aims to enable the Philippines to move rapidly towards its goal of being 60% energy
self-sufficient by 2010 by developing and utilizing resources such as solar, wind,
hydropower, ocean and biomass energy.
The Renewable Energy law aims to accelerate the exploration and development of renewable
energy resources as well as to increase the utilization of renewable energy by institutionalizing
the development of national and local capabilities in the use of renewable energy systems, and
promoting its efficient and cost-effective commercial application by providing fiscal and non-
fiscal incentives.
The new law provides following incentives for the renewable energy sector:
 seven-year income tax holiday and tax exemptions for the carbon credits generated from
renewable energy sources.
 10% corporate income tax, as against the regular 30%, is also provided once the income tax
holiday expires.
 1.5% realty tax cap on original cost of equipment and facilities to produce renewable energy. 
The law also prioritizes the purchase, grid connection and transmission of electricity generated
by companies from renewable energy sources and power generated from renewable energy
sources will be value added tax-exempt.
It sets out specific measures that are to be elaborated, for example within 3 years the National
Renewable Energy Board must formulate and promulgate rules for a renewable portfolio
standards (RPS) obligation on all electricity suppliers.

The Act creates a policy framework for net metering. 

New and renewable energy programme (Exec. Order 462)

The policy aims to:(a.) To accelerate the exploration, development, utilization and
commercialization of ocean, solar, and wind (OSW) energy resources which are indigenous,
renewable, environment-friendly and of such abundance that can provide the Philippines self-
sufficiency in energy and possibly surpluses for export in the future despite high energy demand
due to rapid economic growth; (b.) To enable and enhance private sector participation in the
exploration, development, utilization and commercialization of OSW energy resources; (c.) To
ensure the proper management of OSW energy resources, consistent with the country’s goals
of energy self-sufficiency, affordability, and sustainable development.

Executive Order 462, promulgated in 1997, strengthened the private sector’s

involvement in new and renewable energy development by allowing them to launch alternative
energy projects. Along the same lines as when exploration rights for fossil energy sources are
awarded, in the case of renewable energies, too, a contract must be concluded with the state
according to which a share of the net profits is paid to the state ("production sharing contract").
In 2000 the Programme was modified so that projects with a capacity below 1MW are exempt
from the levy on net profits, and the levy is limited to 15%. The Department of Energy has also
pledged to support project development and ficing, for example in the form of drawing up
feasibility studies and location development. Included under the New and Renewable Energy
Programme are Area-based Energy Programmes (ABEPs), to promote the development and
use of renewable energy sources in the provinces. Local energy supply concepts are being
drawn up under this programme, which is implemented by partner institutions, such as
universities.

The Philippines has set a goal to harness renewable energy (RE) as an essential part of the
country’s low emission development strategy and address challenges of energy sustainability,
security, and equity.  The Renewable Energy (RE) Act of 2008 or Republic Act (R.A.) 9513, sets
an ambitious national target for expanding renewable energy installed capacity to 15,304
megawatts (MW) by 2030 and will push will push the percent share of the RE sector close to
35% in the country’s energy generation mix. The DOE is creating policies and systems to
encourage private domestic and foreign investment drive forward growth in the industry and
reduce the dependence on expensive energy imports. The Department of Energy (DOE)
instituted the Renewable Energy Service Contracting system to form agreements with the
private sector to engage in the exploration, development or utilization of renewable energy
resources and actual operation of RE systems/facilitates.

Marcos administration policy on renewable energy sources (in summary: FOR)

Building new power plants, the use of renewable energy and bringing down the price of
electricity to consumers are the priorities of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the next
six years of his administration.

“At present, our demand for energy far exceeds our reliable supply.

We must increase the level of energy production. We must look at every possible option that
would be appropriate for the Philippine situation,” Marcos said in his first State-of-the-Nation
Address on Monday.
“We must build new power plants. We must take advantage of all the best technology that are
now available, especially in the area of renewable energy,” he said.

The President said there is a need to examine the entire system of transmission and distribution
for the purpose of finding ways to lower the price of energy to the consuming public.

“We will involve our cooperatives. Their transmission efficiencies, and our traditional distribution
system must be more effective in bringing power cheaply to both our homes and industries,” he
said.

In his SONA, Marcos reiterated his earlier position that it is time to re-examine the government’s
strategy towards building nuclear power plants in the Philippines.

“In the area of nuclear power, there have been new technologies developed that allow smaller
scale modular nuclear plants and other derivations thereof,” the President said.

“We will comply, of course, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations for
nuclear power plants as they have been strengthened after Fukushima,” he said.

The President maintained that the search for new power sources should always be with an eye
to improving the energy mix supply between traditional and renewable sources.

“The technology on renewable energy is progressing rapidly. And many of these technologies
are appropriate for the Philippines. We have already begun windmill power, and we are now
expanding very quickly our solar power production,” Marcos pointed out.

For wind turbines, the World Bank has calculated this to have the potential for 280-gigawatts by
2030.

“Solar power has steadily increased its efficiency in converting sunlight to electrical
power, which is particularly attractive to us. Unlike wind power, solar power is practical
— almost everywhere in the Philippines all year round,” Marcos said.

“In the move to lowering our carbon footprint caused by energy production, our advancement to
renewables will have a lead time,” he added.

Marcos pointed out that in the interim, natural gas will hold the key. “We will provide investment
incentives by clarifying the uncertain policy in upstream gas, particularly in the area close to
Malampaya,” he said.

This, he said, requires clarification of the process and review of service contracts policy.

Another fundamental requirement for growth and increased employment will be the availability
of cheap, reliable energy, the President said.

“This even comes under the category of ‘ease of doing business’ if we are to attract investors,
both local and foreign, to set up shop here in the Philippines,” he added.
The President said there is still room to expand the country’s present power supply through the
existing power sources, but only to a limited extent.

Marcos said Public-Private Partnership will play a part in support as funding in this period is
quite limited. (PNA)

Bases:

PHILIPPINES ENERGY MARKET (MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORT

BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION 2020)

The Philippine energy market offers opportunities in LNG, power

generation, transmission, distribution and off-grid islands. 
The Philippines is facing a mounting energy crisis as the Malampaya gas fields deplete,
supplying 30% of Luzon`s energy consumption, are expected to be depleted by 2024. An ever
increasing population, an Administration-mandated infrastructure boom, and some of the
highest electricity costs in S.E. Asia all combine to present formidable challenges.
 
The Philippine Government has stated that it envisions the Philippines being energy self-
sufficient, utilizing a combination of fossil fuels and renewable energy as solutions. About 43
GW of additional capacity will be required by 2040, and the country is clearly behind schedule in
developing solutions. The current energy mix is composed of coal (47%), natural gas (22%),
renewable energy (hydro, geothermal, wind, solar) (24%), and oil-based (6.2%) with current
energy capacity at 23GW. While the country indicated interest in clean energy, this clearly will
not come at the expense of development, and no penalties or incentives are in place for utilizing
different types of energy sources. The current grid also cannot accommodate any additional
input.
 
The electricity sector is fully privatized, with one major utility, Meralco, holding 80% of the
market. The remaining 20% is made up of a few regional players, and 100+ electric
cooperatives. The need for energy solutions and new equipment exists, but larger players make
purely commercial decisions that favor lower cost, and the smaller players often cannot
purchase U.S. solutions long-term.  The Government is seeking investors for offshore
exploration, but is struggling as current foreign investors face contract sanctity and back tax
issues, making new investors extremely hesitant to consider the market. This shows in the lack
of offshore exploration in comparison to other ASEAN neighbors.

The Government has put out a call for applications for entities to compete to build the nation`s
first integrated LNG import terminal with capacity of 5 MTPA.  The private sector entities
managing the terminal will also need to procure gas. Power Generation: Firms are in different
stages of power plant rehabilitation, upgrading, and/or regular maintenance work. This presents
a range of opportunities for supplying various types of equipment and services. 

Solutions are needed for the main grid and new projects, such as $2 billion Visayas-Mindanao
Interconnection Project. Smaller utilities will need to enhance their capabilities. The need for
electricity and solutions outside the main islands is critical, but often not commercially profitable.
USAID funded projects allow for opportunities in consulting and pilot projects.
 
U.S. firms can expect some share of such business as long as they build relationships with local
utilities, and register themselves as potential suppliers. A lack of energy standards does present
uncertainties, but as the market is private sector driven, should one`s product/solution be
desired by the major utilities, one can expect that it will eventually be endorsed by the
Government.