The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) convened officials from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and the European Commission in Washington, D.C., to discuss further development of the Vertical Gas Corridor. This meeting followed earlier gatherings at the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation Summit in Athens in November 2025 and the Transatlantic Gas Security Summit held in Washington, D.C., in February 2026.
“By partnering with the countries of the Vertical Corridor, we are opening major opportunities to expand U.S. LNG exports to Central and Eastern Europe,” said Joshua Volz. “This effort is so important to our President and Secretary because it aligns with our nation’s strengths and commitment to supporting friends and allies across Europe.”
Participants included representatives from energy ministries, national regulators, and Transmission System Operators (TSOs). The technical discussion focused on several priorities: resolving regulatory issues that affect long-term planning; harmonizing tariffs for cost competitiveness; and reviewing strategic infrastructure investments needed to maximize corridor capacity for northbound regasified U.S. LNG from Greece into European markets.
The DOE stated that this meeting underlines its ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S. energy leadership and help allied nations find reliable alternatives to adversarial energy suppliers. “By reducing barriers to U.S. LNG exports, DOE continues to support America’s role as a leading global energy provider,” according to the department.
In addition to these international initiatives, the DOE has been involved in other programs aimed at strengthening energy systems and advancing clean technologies domestically. For example, in July 2022, the department announced a Notice of Intent for a $225 million program funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to implement updated building energy codes intended to improve efficiency and resilience (https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-launches-225-million-program-lower-utility-bills-through-more).
Further demonstrating its commitment to clean energy transitions globally, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm released a video inviting international stakeholders to participate in the Global Clean Energy Action Forum held in Pittsburgh in September 2022 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sebmi2QGbV4).
