Where there has only been darkness, let there be light”
Even today, there are families in Harghita County whose homes have never had electric light. Not because they wanted it that way, but because the power grid does not reach the mountaintop, the edge of the forest, or the last house on the road. As a county leader, I find this unacceptable: every person in Harghita has the right to dignified living conditions, regardless of whether they live in the center of the county or in its most remote corner.
That is why we launched the program through which we installed 52 solar power systems in 12 localities, serving a total of 112 people who previously had no access to electricity. Each affected home received a small, autonomous system that generates power during the day and stores it in batteries for use at night. In everyday terms, this means there is light in the evening, the refrigerator works, phones can be charged, and life becomes safer. In homes that had long been in darkness, the light was switched on — both literally and figuratively.
I believe it is important that this not be a one-time action that we tick off and then forget. For me, this is only the first step: proof that there are solutions capable of providing electricity even to the most isolated households, without deforestation and without the need for expensive grid expansion. In the coming years, I would like the reduction of energy poverty to become a conscious part of our county development plans, with special attention given to places where the conventional grid will never reach.
When I speak in Brussels about the European Union’s next budget, this is the experience I carry with me. Today, it is not easy to finance such a small but highly targeted off-grid program from EU funds, which is why we had to rely on external sources — such as Norwegian funds. My goal is that the next EU budget should include simple, easily accessible instruments that rural and mountainous regions can also use for small renewable energy projects. Attention should not be reserved only for big cities; families living in scattered rural communities deserve it as well.
At the same time, I consider another direction equally important: solutions based on community and local ownership. In several places across Europe — for example in Brussels and Ghent — energy cooperatives are already operating, where citizens, local authorities, and local professionals invest together in solar panels and renovations, and decide together how to use the benefits generated. To me, these examples send a clear message: the energy transition should not be the business of major players alone, but also of local communities.
That is why I am putting forward, as a possibility, that in the future it would be worth considering the creation of an energy cooperative in the Ciuc area and in Harghita County as well. A community-based model in which local people, municipalities, churches, and entrepreneurs could jointly launch solar and energy-efficiency projects, with the benefits staying in the community: lower bills, better services, and local jobs. This is not a final decision, nor an announcement for tomorrow — it is a direction on which I would like to hear the views of local people.
What matters most to me is that one thing should be clear: when I speak about off-grid solar systems, energy cooperatives, and the green transition, I am not trying to force foreign or distant concepts onto the county. I am looking for ways to use these tools to address our own Harghita-specific challenges — energy poverty, outmigration, ageing, and vulnerability. Not every solution will appeal to everyone, and not every place will need the same thing, but for many families these measures can offer a real opportunity: lower utility costs, a safer home, and greater predictability.
We are staying here, and we will pass this land on to our grandchildren. If we can develop it in a way that also preserves the landscape while improving people’s lives, that is not a sin — it is a duty. This is the work I undertake as Vice President of Harghita County Council — both at home and in Brussels — and in this I ask for the opinions and support of the people of Harghita.