During the past year the transatlantic community has revisited the subject of Europe’s energy security with renewed urgency. Russian aggression since the Ukraine crisis has again underscored the need for Europe to achieve energy independence by diversifying its energy supply. However, the debate about the new geopolitics of European energy security largely overlooks the potential for investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Eastern Europe -- key components for achieving an energy independent future and a sustainable, clean energy economy.
On December 15, 2014, the Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted representatives of renewable energy associations from each of the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – to Washington to discuss efforts underway there to diversify energy supplies away from not only Russian energy sources, but from fossil fuels in general. The Baltics are especially dependent on Russia for energy and, therefore, particularly vulnerable to disruption of supply, yet the region is also uniquely situated for increasing its own domestic energy production by developing its renewable energy capacities and becoming a model in this regard for other EU Member States.
What are the drivers and obstacles for investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Baltics? What role do the European Union's energy and climate policies play? How can transatlantic cooperation support this important aspect of Europe's energy security?
Our panelists – Rene Tammist, Director of the Estonian Renewable Energy Association, Martynas Nagevičius, President of the Lithuanian Confederation of Renewable Resources and Edgars Vigants, Board Member of the Latvian Renewable Energy Federation – discuss these questions in the short interviews below.
Interview with Martynas Nagevičius, President of the Lithuanian Renewable Energy Confederation:
Renewable Energy in Lithuania and the Baltics - Heinrich Boell Foundation North America
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Interview with Rene Tammist, Director of the Estonian Renewable Energy Association:
Renewable Energy in Estonia and the Baltics - Heinrich Boell Foundation North America
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Interview with Edgars Vigants, Board member of the Latvian Renewable Energy Federation:
Renewable Energy in Latvia and the Baltics - Heinrich Boell Foundation North America
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The slideshow displayed during the event:
Presentation of Edgars Vigants (Latvia)