Power firm offers alternative energy for Guimaras
A power firm which is into alternative energy has proposed to set up a bio-mass plant in the island-province of Guimaras. The company has offered 2.5 megawatts of power to augment the power provided by the Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO) to its consumers.
Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava said the Asia One Power Corporation offered to construct a power plant inside the Guimelco compound. The plant will convert biodegradable waste into energy for the island's additional power supply. In the proposal, the plant can produce 2.5 megawatts of power.
The company through its Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer Ernesto Tan recently presented the project proposal to the governor. It was not immediately known on how many tons of waste can generate the 2.5 megawatts of power.
Though the governor appreciated the proposal, nothing is final yet as it would still pass proper channels and approval of concerned agencies.
Nava said the company has already made rounds in the different parts of the island prior to the presentation of the project proposal. The island has potentials to produce energy from its biodegradable wastes. The company finds substantial supply of biodegradable wastes to be converted into energy.
He said the availability of supply of coconut husk and coco shells gives the company the positive outlook for the establishment of a bio-mass plant.
The transmission costs for the interconnection would be lessened since the proposed plant is to be constructed inside the GUIMELCO compound. It will not require installation of power connections from the power plant to the power provider, said Nava.
Aside from the lowering of power rates, the governor sees the positive effect of the power plant in the island's environment. The conversion of waste into energy will help in the waste disposal system of the province. The power plant will not harm the environment.
The governor is one of the five governors in Western Visayas who signed a petition in recalling the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) already granted to the Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) for the establishment of a coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.
The governors spearheaded by Regional Development Council (RDC) chair Antique Governor Salvacion Perez wants the project proponent to present the project before the body. While, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas questioned the propriety of their action as the proponent is a private investor. Treñas is openly endorsing the coal-fired power plant for the city in addressing its growing power needs with the entry of several businesses particularly the call centers.