Republic of Palau

Office Of the OresiDent

Tommy Remengesau, Jr.                                                                  P.O. Tel. (680) Box 6051, 767-2403/2828Palau, PW 96940

Fax. (680) 767-2424/1662

Email: [email protected]

EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 403

Establishing the Palau National Energy Committee to Monitor and Guide all National Renewable Energy Efforts

WHEREAS, the Republic of Palau ratified the Paris Climate Agreement in November, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Palau submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement in December, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Palau's NDC puts the nation on a trajectory to generating 45% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025; and

WHEREAS, to achieve this renewable energy target Palau will need considerable additional renewable capacity; and

WHEREAS, on February 16, 2016 the Palau Energy Act (RPPL 9-54) was adopted, establishing the Palau Energy Administration, reaffirming our nation's clear and resolute commitment to increasing our reliance on renewable energy sources, reducing local pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and providing for the creation of a standardized system for the licensing of independent power producers' renewable energy projects that will produce and sell power to the PPUC; and

WHEREAS, effective implementation of the Energy Act is essential to achieving Palau's Paris Agreement commitments; and

WHEREAS, all sectors of Palauan society should have a role in achieving the nation's NDC targets; and

WHEREAS, a clean energy future is fundamental to ensuring access to modern energy services for all Palauans and is a cornerstone of Pristine Paradise. Palau;

WHEREAS, the findings and action plan from the first Palau Energy Summit, held

August 2017 in Koror, Palau, provide clear guidance and identify next steps for meeting the Republic's renewable energy commitments;

WHEREAS, at the 2017 Palau Energy Summit, attendees representing a broad spectrum of Palauan professional, technical, traditional, and political leaders came together for three days of focused discussion with international technical advisors from the Pacific Community (SPC), the United States of America, New Zealand, EarthX, EarthJustice, Okeanos foundation for the sea, GridMarket, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); and at the end of this process the attendees reported an Action Plan that requires the empowerment of the Palau Energy Administration, and the creation of an oversight Energy Committee, to manage Palau's drive to attain our minimum goal of 45% renewable energy by 2025;

NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the Republic of Palau, pursuant to the Constitution and applicable laws of the Republic, it is hereby ordered as follows:

The National Energy Committee, first established for the purpose of preparing the Palau Energy Act, is hereby revived and reconstituted, as set forth below:

Palau National Energy Committee

1. Structure and Operation of the Committee:

a. The Committee shall be chaired by the President of the Republic or his designee.

b. The Committee shall meet at least once per quarter.

c. The Committee shall include representatives from national and State governments, the Council of Chiefs, the private sector, community-based organizations and outside experts as determined by the Executive Committee.

d. Initial members of the Committee shall include [but not be limited to]:

1. Office of the President ii. Minister of Infrastructure, Industry and Commerce or designee iii. Minister of Finance or designee Director of the Palau Energy Administration

v. Palau Public Utilities Corporation VI. Bureau of Public Works vil. Climate Change Office vm. Outside experts

Governors Association representative

x. Rubekul Belau representative xi. National Development Bank of Palau representative

Xll. Tourism industry representative xiii. Palau Chamber of Commerce representative xiv. National Environment Protection Council representative xv. Chair of the Senate Energy Committee

XVI. Chair of the House of Delegates Energy Committee

e. An executive committee shall be formed at the Chair's discretion to more efficiently advance the work of the Committee. The Executive Committee shall be initially comprised of the President or his designee, the Minister of Finance, the Director of the Palau Energy Administration, the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Industries, and Commerce or his designee, and the CEO ofPPUC.

2. Duties and Functions of the Committee:

a)    Support the Palau Energy Administration in its effort to implement the Palau Energy Act and achieve Palau's renewable energy goals, particularly including Palau's Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement. This should include advising on work plans, policy and regulatory reform, requests for proposals, and conclusion of power purchase agreements, among other matters. This should also include oversight of community engagement, workforce training, and outreach efforts both domestic and international.

b)   Specialized sub-committees may be formed by the Executive Committee on issues such as policy reform, PPAs, tariff setting and planning, among others. The Executive Committee may establish such Ad Hoc Committees as it deems necessary.

c)    The Executive Committee shall initially meet at least monthly, including through conference calls, in order to discuss and coordinate issues as set forth in this Executive Order. Electronic participation in meetings shall be permitted to allow for the largest possible participation in Executive Committee and Sub-Committee meetings.

d)   The Executive Committee shall report on the work and accomplishments of the Committee on a biannual basis.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal this 10^th day of August, 2017 at Koror, Republic of Palau.