July

29,2009

The Dept. Of Energy, ERC Must Quit Its Dangerous Policy Of Constructing Coal-Fired
Power Plants
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Philippines-I’m wondering why the Dept of Energy
or the Energy Regulatory Commission would allow the construction of coal-fired
power plants near the residential areas in the country, particulary now that there
is a global shortage of coal according to reports.
Is the head of the Dept. of Energy and that of ERC do not know that there
exists a law called the Clean Air Act of 1999? If these 2 offices do not know yet
anything about this new law, they should ask the Department Of Environment and
Natural Resources. According to the report that I’ve read DENR did not publish the
enforcement rules of the Clean Air Act of 1999. Why?
Do the Energy office personnel have forgotten that there’s already a global
warming affecting us all? Global warming is a poignant reality that hurts us all
which is principally caused by heavy pollution emitted from hundreds and thousands
of vehicles,factories,chemical industries, power plants all over the world that
use fossil fuels in its operations, Not to mention garbage, plastic and chemical
wastes dumped in rivers and landfills in various countries of the world. The
current global warming has also caused the abnormal weather condition that we have
experienced nowadays. Because of global warming, Scientists reported, that
glaciers and icebergs in some cold regions of the earth are gradually melting.
Scientists predicted it may cause floods in some areas or even submerge small
islands if global warming will continue unabated.
Why should our officials concerned who are supposed to be knowledgeable about
the new Clean Air Act of 1999 wants to add pollution to our already polluted
environment by allowing the continued construction of coal-fired power plants in
the country? God forbid! As protectors of the environment the DENR must oppose to
the Energy Dept’s dangerous policy. If the Dept. of Health is really concern with
the health of our people-rich and poor-its head including its Board of Directors
must also oppose now the move for the realization of such dangerous project before
it’s too late.
According to a report from the US Environmental Protection Agency coal-fired
power plants account for most of the pollutants emitted by the power industry in
the United States. Coal –fired power plants emit 93% of the nitrogen oxide, 96% of
the sulphur oxide, 88% of the carbon dioxide and 99% of the mercury emissions that
pollute the air. One can just imagine the high percentage of pollution and health
hazards pose by the coal-fired power plants to the residents within the
surrounding vicinity where it is constructed.
This revealed findings from the scientific and health-minded people is enough
for all concerned mankind and the health-conscious individuals, who are going to
reside in residential areas where there would be a coal-fired power plants, to
shudder in fear for their life. WE really need a Head or an Energy Commissioner
who has the heart and mind of an environmentalist and has the great intent to give
priority to the health and welfare of the people he serves, before making
considerations to a proposed project that would badly affect our environment.
Another report disclosed that the expansion of coal-fired power plants in
the Philippines has shot up to over 2,000 megawatts, while the renewable energy
projects so far only reached up to less than 100MW. What a great ironic twist in
the way the government is considering the health and well-being of its people and
its approach in the choice of a cleaner fuel? In a report it was revealed that the
Philippines rely on 94 percent import of its crude oil needs. Records also show
that oil imports in 2006 had reached a whopping $6.8 billion. If our government
can tap our own renewable sources of energy, then we don’t have to rely on
imported fossil fuels and can save a big amount of money from our coffers.
The Dept of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission and the Dept. of Environment
and Natural Resources must concede to the demands from the Representatives of the
people who know the adverse effect of using coal. The Dept. of Health and other
concerned government agencies including the environmentalist groups should also
joint efforts to avoid any move by some high government officials in utilizing an
energy provider that is very, very pollutant.
Do these government agencies’ honchos have also forgotten that the
Philippines has several inactive/dormant volcanoes waiting to be tapped as a
potential sources of geothermal energy? According to some knowledgeable people
geothermal energy is one of the cleanest and cheapest sources of energy. Why not
tap other undeveloped geothermal deposits we have in the country? Why should we
continue to use coal and crude oil that are now very expensive and are pollutants?
In an editorial piece of a popular Manila tabloid in its May 2008 issue, it
describes coal as the most plentiful but the dirtiest fossil fuel that will harm
the environment and the health of the citizens. It said that the aforementioned
greenhouse gases it emitted will cause climate warming. Thus it will greatly
contribute to the worsening of the global warming that we have now experiencing,
particular during sunny days. Because of coal’s alarming hazard to both the
environment and the health of the people, two environmentalist Senators
Pia Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri said that “if we are to promote an energy
revolution in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to stop climate change and global
warming (caused b y heavy pollution on earth), then let’s phase out all our
existing coal-fired power plants in the country run on dirty and expensive coal”.
With the bad effect of pollutants to the health of millions of Filipinos
coming from coal, the government and the private sector must shun using this
pollutant energy. Both sectors must likewise muster its political will to greatly
reduce the usage on gasoline/crude oil as the country’s contribution to the
reduction of global warming now affecting countries all over the world.
Since the avoidance of using pollutant coal to produce power for electricity
is not only the concern of the Philippines but also of other nations of the world,
other Governments and leaders worldwide should therefore decide in equal footing
and concerted efforts to really achieve our common and global objective of healing
our deteriorating and debilitating environment condition caused by man’s carefree
attitude towards our one and only ecology. This means that all nations on Earth
must now start shifting to using alternative fuels like biofuel, hydro power, wind
power, solar power, electric jeepneys, electric buses, geothermal energy and
deuterium deposits. (Copyright 2008 by Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.,)