WV's first hydro power plant launched today in Antique
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo will today join Antique officials and environmental groups in launching a hydro power plant project in Antique, the first in Western Visayas.
The 14-megawatt (MW) project to be undertaken by Sunwest Water and Electric Co., Inc. in Barangay Villasiga in Bugasong town will be completed in two years, according to Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez.
The project is seen as a boost to efforts of environmental and Church groups to push for renewable sources of energy to help address the power supply deficit in Western Visayas which has been plagued by continued brownouts in recent months.
"We are happy that we will be the first province to have this project and we hope that other provinces in the region will follow our example," Perez, also chair of the Regional Development Council, said in a telephone interview.
Energy and government officials and business groups are pushing for the establishment of coal-fired power plants on Panay Island to ensure a stable energy supply and to break the island's dependence from imported energy, mostly from the geothermal plants in Leyte and the Visayas power grid.
The Visayas grid gets most of its power supply from the geothermal plants in Leyte which exports 360 mw to Cebu and 30 mw to Bohol. Cebu in turn exports 80 mw to Negros which transfers 55 mw to Panay Island, according to data of the Department of Energy.
The DOE projects that the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid will need a total of 261 mw by 2010 to avert a power shortage.
But Western Visayas church leaders led by Lagdameo and environmental groups have staunchly opposed coal plant projects on fears of health and environmental hazards.
A 100-mw coal plant is being planned to be constructed in Concepcion town in Iloilo, around 111 km north of here. Another coal plant is being proposed to be set up in La Paz District in this city.
Lagdameo who has issued statements and joined protest actions against the coal plants welcomed the hydro power plant project.
"Renewable energy is viable! It is possible!" the prelate said in a circular addressed to the clergy and parish pastoral councils dated May 27.
Lagdameo said he has been assured by the investors in the hydro power plant project in Antique that they will sell cheaper energy than the coal-fired power plants.
He noted that other renewable energy projects in Panay are also in progress including a possible wind energy project in Guimaras, bagasse-fed generation plant in Passi City in Iloilo. Another hydro power plant is also being eyed in Libacao town in Aklan which will generate 60-80 mw.
Lagdameo said they agree that there is a need to prepare for the increasing power demand that would result to gradual shortages starting in 2011 but he said renewable sources of energy should be developed and tapped instead of putting up coal plants.
"Listening to the assessments and recommendations of environmentalists, technical groups and scientists, as well as those in the medical profession, we cannot support the proposal to establish coal plants as we would be party to the commission of the social sin of polluting our environment, and putting at risk the health of communities. We strongly advocate for sustainable solutions, and we shall support only those who propose renewable energy projects," Lagdameo said in his circular.
He said insisting only on renewable energy "would be consistent as our faith response to the power concern, as we would be advocating to utilize what God in His goodness had already richly provided us indigenous resources waiting to be harnessed."
Meanwhile, a two-day Multi-sectoral Dialogue on Energy and Climate Change led by the Department of Energy kicks off today in Iloilo City.
DOE Secretary Angelo Reyes will grace the dialogue which will be participated by various stakeholders in the power industry.
According to a press release from the DOE, Reyes will also attend the launching of a hydro power plant project in Antique.