BALER, Aurora — Sen. Edgardo J. Angara urged the national government to develop plans to avert a looming energy crisis in Luzon that is projected to cause rotating blackouts by 2013.
Angara, the Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering who hails from this province, said there is a pressing need for the government to speed up the development of alternative and Renewable Energy (RE) sources that can help prevent the said looming energy problem in Luzon.
The senator said that according to Professor Rowaldo del Mundo from the University of the Philippines National Engineering and Electricity Center, the Luzon grid will be unable to handle the increased power demand from growing business and industries.
He added that rotating blackouts are likely to occur in 2013.
Dr. Alan Ortiz, former president and CEO of the National Transmission Corp. has also stated there is a chance of power outages if growing power needs are not addressed.
Angara added that COMSTE has been working closely with RE developers in wind, solar, and biofuels such as algae, to create a focused approach between government and the private sector and speed up the development of RE sources and industries that can complement existing coal fired plants.
“We should be able to take advantage of collaboration with the private sector and develop more energy projects that can take advantage of the Renewable Energy Act,” Angara said.
He added alternative energy sources will help address the growing power demands while lessening the negative environmental impact that coal fired power plants have.
The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 exempts renewable energy sources from Value Added Tax (VAT), grants a seven year income tax holiday, and prioritizes the purchase, grid connection and transmission of electricity generated by companies from renewable energy sources.
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