Another three partner cities of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID project) have conducted public hearings on their Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs). In February, the mayors of Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi presented their plans for discussion by the public, and in March public hearings were held in Rivne. These SEAPs are developed by the municipalities participating in the European initiative “Covenant of Mayors” for resolving of the current global environmental and energy problems (exhaustible fossil energy resources, greenhouse effect and related adverse climate change, etc.). Every city includes in its plan a number of investment projects focused on promoting the reduction of СО₂ emissions and reduction of energy consumption by the city.

For example, 36 energy efficiency projects were proposed in Ternopil with a total expected energy savings of 679,396.79 MW•h/year. Ternopil plans to reduce СО2 emission in 2020 by 22.15% due to the implementation of its SEAP. In addition, it plans to reduce consumption of all key types of energy resources by 339,698.38 MW•h/year. The participants of the hearings suggested the creation of a school for managers and employees of condominiums, the correct use of solid waste and biomass for municipal heating, specifying SEAP measures, initiation of energy efficiency outreach activities among the city residents, etc.

The Khmelnytskyi SEAP contains over 60 project proposals for total amount of UAH 2,976.3 million. Their implementation will reduce СО₂ emissions by 240,361 t/year. Natural gas savings by 2025 will be 367,866 th. m³, of electricity ‒ 360,203 MW·h.

The Rivne SEAP calls for 58 energy efficiency projects that would reduce СО₂ emission by 20.43% and reduce consumption of key types of energy resources by almost 371,000 MW·h/year. Participants of the public hearings on SEAP suggested publicizing the “ESCO-Rivne” data, and making a project with open data on energy consumption.

 Discussions on SEAPs will be held soon by the cities of Kyiv and Pavlohrad.