By EUGENE ADIONG
LA CARLOTA City — The Department of Energy (DOE) believes Negros Occidental can become the “Renewable Energy Capital of the Philippines.”
“With the commitment and sincerity of companies like San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SaCaSol) and the full support of their local and foreign partners, this can be achieved,” DOE Assistant Secretary Daniel Ariaso said.
Ariaso led the groundbreaking for SaCaSol’s 18-megawatt (MW) solar power plant project (SaCaSol II) here on May 16, a day after the 22-MW SaCaSol I was inaugurated by President Benigno Aquino III in San Carlos City.
Ariaso said the SaCaSol II project was processed and approved by the Energy department in 12 days.
“Another SaCaSol solar power plant (project) in Manapla (town),” which could generate 22 MW more, “will be approved on Tuesday next week,” he revealed.
He said SaCaSol II will have 72,000 modules and 18 inverters. “Undoubtedly, [it] will complement DOE’s mission to ensure energy security in the short, medium and long terms,” he said.
“This is a very promising project, especially that Visayas is a fast-growing region, and there is a forecasted shortfall in generating capacity that creates an attractive opportunity for solar development in Negros Island,” he stressed.
He appealed to local governments in Negros Occidental to endorse projects like this.
Also present in yesterday’s groundbreaking were SaCaSol’s local partner Roberto Cuenca, ThomasLloyd group chairman and chief executive officer Michael Sieg, La Carlota City Vice Mayor Luis Jalandoni III, Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Jose Benito Alonzo and Provincial Legal Officer Jose Ma. Valencia, who represented Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr./PN
