On Wednesday, February 19, 2014, the USAID Macedonia Clean Energy Investment Project implemented by Winrock International hosted the second in the series of Renewable Energy Stakeholder Forums. These Forums are organized in partnership with the Macedonian Association of Renewable Energy Producers at the Chamber of Commerce and the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) Balkan Renewable Energy Program USAID Clean Energy Investment Project Chief of Party, Mr. Samir Latif opened the second Renewable Energy Stakeholder Forum, where key presenters were Mr. Betim Lamalari, State Councellor at the Minsitry of Enivornment and Spatial Planning, Mr. Goran Cogela, Counsellor to the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mr. Viktor Dimitrievski of Electricity distributor EVN, and Mr. Darko Janevski, Renewable Energy Specialist at USAID Clean Energy Investment Project. Over 60 participants from the public and the private sector, majority of which were renewable energy investors actively participated at the Forum, asked questions, and provided suggestions.

The specific topics of discussion at the second Forum were identified by the investors as issues of their most immediate interest. Those were: the new tender for concessions for 80 small hydro power plants, analysis of the proposed changes in the feed in tariffs, and changes in the grid connection rules. Also legal proposals developed as a follow up to the first Renewable Energy Stakeholder Forum were presented and discussed.

The Renewable Energy Stakeholder Forums serve as a vehicle for public-private dialogue on wide range of issues related to renewable energy. They provide a much needed mechanism in Macedonia that brings together renewable energy project developers, investors, local associations, ministries, agencies, and international donors to generate new initiatives and act as a feedback channel for legal proposals. The initiatives developed in these forums will improve the legal and regulatory framework for investing in renewable energy and resolve some of the challenges faced by investors.