The Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod is endorsing   the National Renewable Energy Board petition to initiate rule-making for the adoption of the feed-in tariff for electricity generated from biomas, ocean, run-off-river hydropower, solar and wind energy sources.

Feed-in tariff or FIT refers to a renewable energy policy that offers guaranteed payments on a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour for emerging renewable sources. The FIT system will accelerate the development of these resources, the SAC said in its position paper.

The SAC headed by Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, though its power desk head Elinore Cabanilla, submitted its position paper  on the matter to the Energy Regulatory Commission that is hearing the petition of the NREB, amid an alleged  strong lobby against it from big business.

The need to shift to renewable energy is urgent amid the havoc brought on by climate change, the SAC paper said.

“Something must be done – and done swiftly – to buck the trend towards the tipping point, which scientists predict to be the irreversible threshold of doom,” the SAC paper said.

The hindrances in the past has slowed the adoption of renewable energy,  it is heartening to note that the new government is taking giant strides  to realize its long term goal of energy security and insulation from volatile fossil fuel prices, it said.

The Diocese of Bacolod under Bishop Vicente Navarra has always been consistent and unwavering in its advocacy for the development and utilization of renewable energy resources, it said.

This is why the diocesan clergy and parishioners have time and again vehemently opposed the intrusion of the Energy Development Corp geothermal plant into the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park and the plan of some businesses to put up a coal fired power plant in Negros Occidental, it said.

It noted that the Department of Energy projected power shortfall for Negros is about 93 megawatts by 2015.

This deficit can easily be filled by hydropower and the sugar mills generation of power from biomass, the paper said.

“Our planet imminent danger and efforts must be redoubled to save it,” the position paper said.*CPG

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