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On Wednesday, two groups praised the government’s move to no longer support new coal-fired power plants, saying it would promote competition and a wider use of renewable energy (RE).
In separate statements, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) and Greenpeace welcomed the Department of Energy (DoE) moratorium on brand-new coal-fired power plants or coal facilities that have yet to be built, which, they said, would pave the way for the country’s transition to RE.
“By declaring a moratorium on new coal plants, [Energy] Secretary [Alfonso] Cusi adheres to [the] The DoE’s mandate to enable competition in the energy sector and provide reliable and profitable energy, while giving preference to indigenous and clean energy sources, ”said ICSC Senior Policy Advisor Pedro Maniego Jr.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the risks of over-reliance on inflexible base load plants, primarily coal, as well as the need for the country’s transition to a modern and flexible energy system that uses renewable energy at a cost marginal close to zero, “he added.
Greenpeace activist Khevin Yu called the moratorium “a small step” and said that to “ensure the country’s rapid transition to renewable energy, the Department of Energy must take this further by enacting a permanent moratorium that include no [only] coal projects, but also gas in the pipeline, and put in place a phase-out plan for existing coal and other fossil fuel facilities ”.
Along with the moratorium, Cusi also announced that the country now allows full foreign ownership of large-scale geothermal exploration, development and utilization projects, which Maniego supports and Yu expressed dismay.
Meanwhile, Infrawatch PH coordinator Terry Ridon said that “geothermal energy cannot be considered a mineral resource,” noting that “under the 1987 Constitution, a distinction is made between minerals and potential energy forces, which is what essentially is geothermal energy. “
“As such, the government cannot enter into financial and technical assistance agreements with foreign-owned corporations for the development of large-scale geothermal projects,” he added.
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