Osmena says solar power subsidies an ‘unnecessary’ burden
Saturday, June 11, 2011
A PLAN BY the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) to prioritize solar energy will burden consumers by around P1.7 billion a year, the Senate chairman of the Joint Congressional Power Commission warned Friday.
Senator Sergio Osmena III said the NREB’s allocation of 100MW of the country’s renewable energy mix is too expensive and should be deferred until the cost of solar panels goes down. Osmena said the cost of solar panels is expected to be halved in the next five years.
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“That would be the proper time to consider using solar energy, a P9/kWh rate for 20 years would certainly be more tolerable,” he said.
The senator said the current feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar energy, at P17.95 kWh, is too expensive considering there are cheaper alternative sources of energy.
The FIT is an extra charge that consumers will have to pay to encourage power producers to invest in renewable energy. This will cost consumers around P1.7 billion a year for the first three years. The subsidy will be lower, at P1.4 billion, in the last 17 years of FITs, the senator said.
For mini-hydro power, the FIT, is P6.15/kWh. Biomass energy, meanwhile, will have an FIT of P7.00/kWh while wind power will have an FIT of P7.00/kWh.
“The NREB proposal for on-grid solar energy is like buying a Mercedes Benz when there are still Hyundais, Nissans, and Toyotas available at less than half the price,” Osmeña explained.
Only energy from the ocean is as expensive, but Osmena said the NREB only allocated 10MW for it since it is an experimental technology.
“Spain and Germany have suddenly cut their solar programs, finding them horrendously expensive. If those rich nations cannot afford solar, how much more a country like the Philippines?” the senator also said.
He said solar power will be good for off-grid users and that he supported the construction of a 20MW solar plant in Mindanao but that the rest of the allocation should instead be given to biomass and mini-hydro power.
He explained that biomass power, from waste or from ethanol, can provide farmers with extra income while mini-hydro power plants can also be used for irrigation.
“The DOE should exercise extreme caution in the implementation of the FIT System considering that it imposes additional costs on the consumers particularly in the early years. Solar energy, if introduced in haste, will unnecessarily burden the consumer,” Osmeña added.
But according to Tetchie Capellan, president of the Philippine Solar Power Alliance, the feed-in tariffs will actually only cost consumers an extra P0.12/kWH.
She said paying the small extra charge is like paying monthly payments on a house, except that with just an extra P0.12/kWH, consumers get a power plant.
Capellan added the FIT will be subject to review on the third year, and will already be six percent lower after the first year.
She added the Renewable Energy law requires support for developing technologies from solar but does not specify which technologies will
be given priority.
She said waiting until solar panels are cheaper will mean the Philippine solar power industry will not be able to grow.
“If you wait until it’s cheaper, then we’ll just be importers. There will be no reason for us to make our own solar panels,” she said. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/06/11/osmena-says-solar-power-subsidies-unnecessary-burden-160529
Best restaurant in Clark Pampanga attracts diners and wine lovers from Manila, Subic and Angeles City Philippines to wine and dine at this fine dining restaurant
More and more, frequent diners from Manila, Angeles City, Subic and other major cities in Asia travel to North Luzon Pampanga Clark Freeport to enjoy good food in a romantic fine dining restaurant. On their list of requirements is a good wine list that not only offers a wide selection of wines from different countries but also older vintages that can be enjoyed now and not ten years later. Classic fine dining is the experience that guests of Clark Pampanga’ Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar offers to their guests. Although this is an upscale fine dining establishment, families find the restaurant to be very children friendly.
Private dinners can be accommodated in this famous restaurant located in Mimosa, at the heart of Pampanga Clark Freeport. Private rooms suitable for 4 to 24 can be reserved in advance for company and personal functions and events. This fine dining restaurant is a very popular venue for small wedding receptions, social events, company board meetings and annual parties. This popular night out spot is generally regarded as the best restaurant in Clark Pampanga, a good nightlife destination as well as a good place to drink, relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic and Clark.
This fine dining restaurant is also famous for its low carbohydrates “low carb” dishes highly recommended for frequent diners who are on a low fat food and favor healthy food. This is a unique restaurant that can help frequent diners maintain a healthy diet and enjoy delicious fine dining cuisine at the same time. Vegetarian dishes are a specialty here also and so are “halal” cuisines also.
Wine lover’s choice – Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar – for the most impressive and practical wine list in the Philippines, over 2700 selections, enough to satisfy the most fastidious connoisseurs. Wine lovers and gourmand foodies from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Malaysia dine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar when they visit Philippines and bring home some rare vintage wines too.
Best place to unwind in Angeles City Pampanga Philippines is to wine and dine at Yats Restaurant which is also considered as the best restaurant in Clark for group dinners, parties and social functions outside of Manila. Guests of this top rated fine dining resto bar in Clark enjoy the cozy ambience, the spacious dining area as well as the privacy and exclusivity of this top restaurant near Manila in Clark. Some guests wine and dine at this famous restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga for its gourmet food. Others frequently dine at this restaurant in Clark for its fine selection of vintage wines that are offered at attractive prices. Some guests, business executives especially, select this restaurant because of its elegant private dining facilities and the attentive and professional service that the staff provide for a more formal business dinner.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Pampanga? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
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