Ilocos Norte province is leading the way in the installation of solar panels in its government buildings to save on electricity and lessen dependence on fossil fuels.
This was bolstered by the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding among the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, ACEN Corporation, and the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) for the implementation of a Solar Rooftop Program designed to support the province’s ongoing efforts to harness solar power to energize government facilities, public schools, and other community structures.
“This will be a huge step forward for the energy sector in Ilocos Norte,” Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc said in a statement on Thursday, as he enjoined energy partners to ensure that everyone’s interests are heard and protected through the tripartite agreement.
To date, the rooftop of the provincial capitol building is being retrofitted with solar panels.
The same will also be done to the rooftops of Dap-ayan Commercial Building, the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Provincial Hospital, and the district hospitals in the towns of Bangui, Dingras and Marcos.
Based on the latest energy audit conducted in various local government units here, the Ilocos Norte government needs to allocate around PHP45 million to implement the solar project with a capacity of 470 kilowatts at peak operation.
INEC said once the Solar Rooftop Project is completed, it could reduce the cost of electricity in the province by 40 percent, as the power generated will be coursed through to the lone power distribution utility.The ongoing project is in support of House Bill 7625, or the "Solar Energy in National Government Offices Act", filed by House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Alexander Araneta Marcos III, which mandates that solar energy systems be established to initially supply at least 10 percent of the electric power requirements of government agencies in their respective buildings or offices.
Even with the presence of solar and wind energy farms in the province, INEC reported that the power requirements of local households are still heavily dependent on coal-fired power plants as renewable energy sources — which include solar, hydro, wind, and geothermal — generate only around 20 percent of the country's power supply.
"We are very excited to embark on this partnership with PGIN (Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte) and INEC. This solar rooftop program will definitely help the people of Ilocos Norte, not only by taking care of the environment but also by empowering communities," said Eric Francia, chief executive officer of ACEN, in a separate statement.
(This Article was originally published by PNA)
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