Targu Mures Municipality has been selected by the European Commission (EC), through the Citizen Energy Advisory Hub initiative, as one of the first six municipalities in Europe to organize a Citizens' Energy Panel.
The local administration will host the launch event for the initiative on October 15, 2026, with the main objective of testing the "Eco-Neighbourhood of Targu Mures" pilot project and supporting the development of local energy communities.
"This European initiative seeks to directly engage citizens in identifying and developing local energy solutions, promoting the production and use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy affordability, and community participation in the energy transition. The Citizens' Energy Panel in Targu Mures will support the shift from planning to implementation of local energy initiatives by exploring financing opportunities and identifying solutions to overcome regulatory, administrative and informational barriers. In this context, the Targu Mures City Hall aims to facilitate cooperation among citizens, public authorities, experts and the business community in order to identify viable models for organizing and developing energy communities. One of the panel's central topics will be the pilot project 'Eco-Neighbourhood of Targu Mures,' designed as an opportunity to test and develop a Romanian model of an energy community," the City Hall said in a press release on Monday.
Through this approach, the municipality said, the local administration aims to identify concrete solutions for the production, storage, use and efficient management of energy, tailored to local conditions and needs.
The event, titled "Citizens' Energy Panel in Targu Mures: Energy Communities and Energy Solutions for the City's Future," scheduled for October 15, will bring together citizens, homeowners' association representatives, non-governmental organizations, companies, academic institutions, energy experts and public authorities.
According to the municipality, participants will be able to contribute to identifying the city's energy priorities and formulating proposals related to: the development of energy communities and citizen involvement in energy production and consumption; improving the energy efficiency of buildings; use of renewable energy sources and modern energy storage solutions; facilitating access to energy and reducing energy vulnerability; identifying funding sources and partnerships needed to implement local energy projects.
The panel will benefit from technical and methodological support provided through the Citizen Energy Advisory Hub, including European expertise and resources to facilitate dialogue and the participatory process.
The Targu Mures City Hall has invited all interested individuals and organizations to take part in the event and contribute to shaping the city's energy future.
The municipality's participation in the initiative represents an opportunity to capitalize on European expertise and engage the local community in identifying sustainable energy solutions.
"By organizing the Citizens' Energy Panel, the Targu Mures City Hall aims to transform the community's ideas and proposals into concrete courses of action for future local energy initiatives. The energy future of Targu Mures is being built together with its citizens," the release states.
