On March 14, 2017 with the assistance of the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco Member of the Parliament of Ukraine Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska held in California several business meetings with the US counterparts, including Chairman of the California Energy Commission Robert Weisenmiller, Chairman of the California Senate Committee of the Energy, Utilities and Communications Ben Hueso, California Assembly member Kevin Kiley and Vice-President of the California Chamber of Commerce Susanne Stirling.

In meetings with Robert Weisenmiller, Ben Hueso and Susanne Stirling the MP of Ukraine informed about the results of our country’s energy sector reform, diversification of energy supply, state of the gas transportation network with neighboring countries, legislative initiatives to prepare a bill on the energy market and the concept of energy security of Ukraine, which is particularly relevant in light of the ongoing Russian aggression.

Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska paid much attention to prospects of the renewable energy sector of Ukraine. In this context she requested American partners to consider attracting US investors to the powerful solar power construction project in the Chernobyl zone. The project aroused the interest of the Chairman of the California Energy Commission and the Chairman of the California Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications, who expressed readiness to arrange a trip of the California business delegation to Ukraine to discuss the possibility of launching bilateral cooperation.

As part of the experience exchange the Californian officials briefed on the structure of electricity production in the state and mechanism to ensure energy balance, the intention to combine the power grids of California and neighboring states and the introduction of advanced technologies in the renewable sector (especially solar) energy as well as countering cyber attacks. Given the ambitious targets to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions, the Chairman of the California Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications stressed the readiness to support our country in its similar aspirations.

During the meeting with the California Assembly member an agreement was reached to promote launching of educational student exchange programs within the interactions of relevant young MP caucuses of Ukraine and California.