PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT 2017-2020 The Government will provide for the use of natural gas as cheap and environmentally friendly energy source for everyone in the country by building gas pipelines with innovative new technologies (CNG and LND) to urban areas and distribution networks. The government will take measures toward rejoining TAP (TAP-Trans Adriatic Pipeline) for gasification of southwestern Macedonia and joining the transmission systems in Bulgaria and Greece. The Government will simplify procedures for implementation of projects related to renewable energy sources, entrust an institution to introduce “one stop shop” for obtaining all the necessary data, information and documents in view of implementing the overall process to fruition. The Government will propose legislative changes to simplify procedures for urbanization of construction land and obtaining construction permits for such facilities. The Government will financially subsidize the construction of photovoltaic power plants in households and encourage economic development by opening new factories for manufacture of photovoltaic panels and modules. New 10MW photovoltaic power plant will be built with panels produced in Macedonia. The Government will foster wind-speed electricity production (for up to a maximum installed capacity of 150 MW) through a transparent process of permits and decisions. The Government will invest in reforestation of mountains and low-class agricultural lands with energy-rich, fast-growing trees for production of pellets and biomass. The Government will stimulate domestic and/or foreign investors to open factories for the production of wood pellets and chips. The Government will apply a policy that the cost of thermal energy from large cogeneration plants will be sold at a price that is at least 10% lower than the price of boiler regulated plants. The Government will encourage the use of cogeneration plants in households and in public health institutions and provide financial incentives. The Government will grant low-class agricultural land, so-called “energy-farming” areas for investments in cogeneration installations in agriculture The Government will establish a special fund for financing energy efficient projects with funds from the energy companies and EU funds and grants. We will provide free education to commercial and industrial customers to rationalize energy consumption. To reduce energy poverty, the Government will introduce priority measures for greater energy efficiency, energy vouchers to citizens covered by the Law on Energy Poverty and “cheap electricity” on the weekends and 2 hours daily. In the process of creating conditions for liberalization of energy markets, the Government will take care to avoid possible price shocks, particularly the security of energy supply. By making changes in laws and bylaws, the Government will allow for the legalization of all illegal buildings that are located in or in close proximity to high voltage transmission lines corridors. 47