Bacolod City welcomes Electric Jeepneys
Negros Occidental, the first Philippine province to embrace a 100% renewable energy target, today renewed its strong commitment to help stop climate change with the launch of the Electric Jeepneys in Bacolod City by GRIPP (Green Renewable Independent Power Producer) and Greenpeace.
The launch, which established Bacolod alongside Makati City as a pilot area for GRIPP's Climate Friendly Cities project, coincided with the visit of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was present for the public viewing of the Electric Jeepneys. GRIPP and Greenpeace used the occasion to present their call to the President for the national government to support the large-scale replication of the project in cities around the country, and to enable the massive uptake of renewable energy alternatives in order to mitigate climate change.
"Bacolod and Makati cities have demonstrated that local governments can take action and play a critical role in contributing to global efforts at curbing dangerous climate change even while they forge real, sustainable solutions that address festering environmental problems at the local level like air pollution and municipal waste. By taking on this project, along with its commitment to obtain energy only from renewable sources, Bacolod proves that solutions to climate change are both practical and doable," said Athena Ronquillo, Chair of GRIPP's Board of Trustee, and also Greenpeace International Climate and Energy Campaigner.
Support on a national level, however, is crucial to ensure the successful replication of the project. GRIPP and Greenpeace called on the national government to help reduce tariffs for pioneering RE technologies including those for sustainable public transport, and to provide technical, financial and institutional support for renewable energy-based power plants, particularly bio-gas power stations which, under the project, will power the Electric Jeepneys. In addition, GRIPP urged the government to set up innovative financial mechanisms for transport cooperatives and jeepney drivers who are interested in the electric jeepney, so that these sectors may avail of concessionary, low interest financial assistance from local and national development and funding institutions.
As part of the launch, Bacolod City, represented by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with GRIPP to facilitate the implementation of the project, including the provision of the bio-gas power station. As in the case of Makati City, Bacolod's Electric Jeepneys will undergo intensive commercial testing for six months before the rest of the fleet and the power plant officially start operations.
The Electric Jeepneys are part of GRIPP's Climate Friendly Cities project, a multi-pronged initiative that aims to use energy from biodegradable waste from the city's wet markets, food establishments, and households to power an environment-friendly public transport system. With the establishment of the biodigester power plant, the project therefore goes beyond the concept of the smoke emission-free electric vehicle, and promotes the generation of cleaner, safer, renewable energy alternatives as opposed to climate change-inducing fossil fuels used by majority of power plants around the country.
The project, particularly the development of the initial 50-strong fleet of Electric Jeepneys to be leased to pilot cities, is largely funded by the Dutch DOEN Foundation which provides funding to organizations and projects in the fields of sustainable development, culture, welfare and social cohesion.