Quick passage of renewable energy bill urged

http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul27/envi5.html
Malaya 27 July 2006

THE country stands to benefit by as much as $1.23 billion over the next 10 years if it will pursue the development of its renewable energy resources, but the appropriate incentives and policy framework have to be put in place.

According to Mario Marasigan, director of the Energy Department Energy Utilization Bureau, the Philippines has considerable renewable energy resources which are more than sufficient to meet its growing power requirements. To illustrate this point, he cited the vast renewable energy potential installed capacity – far exceeding the 4,350 MW additional power requirement of the country in the next eight years.

Marasigan made the remarks during a familiarization tour of renewable energy facilities conducted for the technical staff of various senators and senate committees, including the Senate Committee on Energy. The tour was organized by the Renewable Energy Coalition which has been advocating for the swift passage of the Renewable Energy Bill. The House committee on energy recently adopted and endorsed HB 5563 for plenary consideration. The Senate Committee on Energy is also considering a counterpart measure. The RE Coalition is also calling that the bill be certified as urgent by Malacanang.

Various groups and industry players have been awaiting the enactment of the bill, which is one of the key measures President Arroyo asked Congress to pass in her 2005 State of the Nation Address.

The renewable energy tour group visited the Makiling-Banahaw geothermal facilities operated by the country’s geothermal pioneer Unocal Philippines, Inc., and the micro-hydro facilities which supplies power to the Villa Escudero plantation-resort. Among the country’s renewable energy sources, geothermal and hydro are relatively the most developed, accounting for 18 percent and 15 percent of the total power generation. The Philippines is also the world’s second largest producer of geothermal energy next to the United States.

Aside from geothermal and hydro, the proposed Renewable Energy Act will provide the needed impetus to promote the development of the country’s wind, solar, biomass, and ocean energy sources. Marasigan said various projects on these energy sources are in the pipeline or are currently being offered to investors.