The annual conference of the Pacific Power Association has endorsed the Pacific Islands Forum's call to develop projects that use renewable energy to solve the region's urgent energy needs.
At their conference in American Samoa, the association's members also agreed to work closely with their governments to prepare national energy policies, and action plans including voluntary renewable and energy efficiency targets.
The association's executive director Anthony Neil says utilities and their customers cannot afford to depend on expensive diesel imports for power.
"We're also focussing on energy efficiency we tend to feel that we can make some large improvements in the reduction of energy efficiency, and the renewables is a longer term focus for us. But initially it will be on improving the energy efficiency within our utilities."
Anthony Neil, Executive Director of the Pacific Power Association.
