Clean energy groups“blind”

To coal lighting their homes

TAGBILARAN CITY, March 10 (PIA)—If not for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan called conference among power distribution utilities and anti-coal advocates, Boholanos would not have known the irony. 

Bohol might be using a generally big chunk of clean geothermal energy, but a sizable bulk of the power supplied to the professed environment-friendly island, comes from coal. 

And if not for the persistent objection of environment cause-oriented groups who earlier issued a manifesto against a perceived plan to build a Bohol-based coal-fired power plant, the revelation may not have come at such an inopportune time.

We never knew that, we only learned about it when the distribution utilities bared, admits Atty Alma Aparece and Clean Energy Advocates spokesperson Noelyn Dano.

Now that they know it, they are asking the government to help Bohol wane from the dirty source of energy.

Bohol officials have long floated the idea of opening up windows for investors in building in Bohol reliable power plants to respond to the dire need for more reliable power. 

Although getting geothermal energy from Leyte, Bohol realized a disaster like typhoons and earthquakes hitting the transmission lines could easily cut Bohol off from the grid, rendering the a major part of the province in blanketing darkness. 

At the SP called meeting however, distribution utilities (DU) especially Bohol Electric Cooperative I and Bohol Light Company Incorporated authorities laid down the truth: around 40-45% of the power they are using is supplied by the coal-fired power plants in Cebu. 

The decision, according to DU authorities is based on the EPIRA law which mandated that DUs would use a mixed energy source regardless of technology, but with the least cost in production. 

This assures that the power that gets to the consumers is affordable.

Even as BOHECO 1 general manager Engr. Dino Roxas admitted they totally support the idea of a resilient power in Bohol, they are also open to less-costly energy sourcing technologies.

While BOHECO said they are committing 50% of their power demand to less costly resource, Engr. Roxas hinted that at the moment, nuclear, geothermal and coal are still among those with the lowest production cost. 

He also hinted that with coal keeping the cost competition down, a potential spike in the electricity costs could ensue if coal is kept out of the picture, he warned. 

Meanwhile, BLCI through Engr Eliseo Signe bared that they are supplying 50% geothermal and 50% coal power to their Tagbilaran City franchise area owing to the Epira Law. 

He however hints that an ordinance would make them open to all technologies as long as for them, it complies with the environment, it is renewable and is produced at the least cost. 

An additional policy would be most welcome, he said. 

BOHECO 11 manager Engr Eugene Tan however assured that they distribute 100% clean geothermal energy in their franchise. 

When an earthquake hit Leyte in July of last year, all BOHECO 2 service areas experienced the longest power disruption due to their distance from the other land-based power generators in Bohol. 

In Bohol, the power disruption was later filled by three hydro-power generators in Ewon Sevilla, Tontonan in Loboc and Hanopol in Balilihan. 

Another critical supply responding to the power requirements of Tagbilaran City at that time was Bohol Diesel Power Plant in Dampas.

The locally generated power however is still insufficient to get businesses supplied with the critical power to run, that Bohol arranged for a bunker-fuel fired power barge.

Both bunker fuel and diesel when burned, are still considered environment risks and health hazards. 

Over the DU revelations, anti-coal advocates admit they are end-users and can not do otherwise. 

They however wished the government can help in slowly reducing Bohol’s dependence to coal, it being among the identified health and environment hazards. 

The Bohol anti-coal groups called themselves Clean Energy Advocates. 

Meanwhile, Tagbilaran Bishop Albert Uy, who personally attended the meeting urged Boholanos to see everything in the eyes of faith; that everything in creation is God’s gift, and as stewards, our vocation is to take care of it. He also cited the papal exhortation on the Laudato Si, which eminds people that we all share one home, which is the only one we have. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Bohol Light Company Incorporated through Engr Eliseo Signe bared that half of Tagbilaran City’s power is still supplied by coal fired plants, although he thinks an ordinance that could guide them in selecting the supply in the future can be their shield against any blame for shifting to a cleaner but more expensive power source. Beside Engr Signe is anti-coal advocate Noelyn Dano and lawyer Alma Aparece. (rahc/PIA-7Bohol)