PRESS RELEASES

USTDA Grant Supports Renewable Energy Project In Turkey

U.S. Trade & Development Agency

Ankara - September 20, 2005

The promotion of renewable energy sources in Turkey to help meet the country’s anticipated future demand for electricity is the goal of a U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) grant awarded to Bilgin Elektrik, a private Turkish energy firm.  The $245,780 grant will be used to fund a feasibility study on a wind power project at Soma in southwestern Turkey.

The grant was conferred at a signing ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.  USTDA Europe and Eurasia Business Development Manager Jennifer Snyder and Bilgin Elektrik Project Development Director Tolga Bilgin signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. government and Bilgin Elektrik, respectively.

The construction of the Soma wind farm project is planned to take place in three 30 MW phases, each with twenty 1.5 MW wind turbines.  In addition to bringing clean, renewable energy to the region and serving over 30,000 households, the project is anticipated to create over 1000 jobs.  The project will improve the overall energy infrastructure in the region and provide additional power for industrial development.  The construction of new access roads is also expected, as well as the reconstruction of some existing ones.  

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development in developing and middle-income countries.  The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.  USTDA’s strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development.  In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.