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Solons push moratorium on coal plantsThe Daily Tribune

11/25/2010

Lawmakers yesterday called on Congress for the enactment of a measure which wouldset for a moratorium on the construction and expansion of coal-fired power plants.

Coal is considered one of the dirtiest sources of energy and is one of the leadingcontributors to climate change and global warming. Environment advocates have beenpressing the government for years to prepare, in a comprehensive and strategic manner,sources of energy alternative to coal such as geothermal and hydro power, but to no avail.It is time Congress intervenes and comes up with measures to help protect ourenvironment and human lives before its too late, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier

Colmenares said.

Colmenares and fellow Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casio, together with otherenvironmentalist members of Congress are filing a House Resolution calling for theimmediate moratorium on the construction and/or expansion of coal-fired power plantprojects. Bayan Muna is also joined by Reps. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Raymond Palatino,Antonio Tinio, Rafael Mariano, Luzviminda Ilagan, and Emerenciana de Jesus. Rep.Manny Pacquiao also committed to co-author the resolution upon his arrival fromSaranggani.

According to the resolution, there are currently 10 coal power plants in the country

consuming 80 percent of the nations coal supply. There are four additional coal-firedpower plants to be completed by 2012 and there are still proposals for more coal powerplants in different provinces and cities.

Colmenares said that coal plants cause irreparable damage to the environment and healthof surrounding communities. In fact, coal plants registered the highest external costamong different types of power generation, according to a study by the EuropeanCommission in 2003. External costs arise when project impacts such as damages tohuman health are not fully accounted or compensated for by a power plant, he said.

Why should we build more of these dangerous coal plants when we have an excess

power of 3,847 MW? Department of Energy (DE) data also shows that in 2009, thecountry has an installed power capacity of 15,610 MW and dependable power capacity of 13,319 MW while the peak power demand is just 9,472 MW. The excess power supply isequivalent to 19 power plants having 200 MW capacity each, he added.

The Philippines is a signatory to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) whose declared objective is, ... stabilization of greenhouse concentrations inthe atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with

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the climate system... within a time frame sufficient to allow eco-systems to adaptnaturally to climate change to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enableeconomic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.

If nothing is done about the carbon emissions, global greenhouse gases are projected to

increase by 52 percent by 2050. That would also mean an increase in the global meantemperature. The year 2050 is the set time frame by the UNFCCC, that is why a coalmoratorium is urged unless 1) GHG emission level in the atmosphere have beenstabilized at an acceptable level as certified by UNFCCC or 2) energy needs havesubstantially increased to levels beyond the capacity of other renewable energy source toaddress. In the meantime, let us focus our efforts at clean alternative sources of energy,Colmenares said.

The solon said that power rates have not really gone down even if power generation fromcoal is branded as the cheapest source of energy. He added that while Filipinos have theright to demand for a stable and affordable power supply, it should not compromise their

right to a healthful environment and genuine development. He also said that the countryhas enough renewable energy source that can be tapped to supply the countrys growingenergy needs like geothermal, wind and solar energy sources.

The Network Opposed to Coal-Fired Power Plant (NO COAL Power Plant), composed of environmental groups and advocates, is also conducting a petition-signing in support forthe resolution to stop the construction of additional coal plants in the country. Charlie V.Manalo