BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The technology industry will invest in Negros, with power surplus generated from renewable energy, provincial consultant on Economic Affairs Alfredo Benitez said.
Benitez said he will call for a power summit to conduct a study and look for a system to achieve reduction of cost in power to benefit consumers, and allow a stable and competitive rate of power to entice technology industry to come in, and invest.
Out of almost 600 megawatts power generation, he said that Negros can only utilize 350MW peak load consumption.
It seems there is enough power generated on Negros Island that is not being used, he said, noting also that Iloilo has already brought down its power costs.
Benitez and former Gov. Rafael Coscolluela, who is the provincial consultant on Energy, held a pre-power summit Monday, attended by representatives of electric cooperatives and producers, at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.
One of the visions of Negros Occidental ever since, Benitez said, “is to get into the technology industry”, stressing that power is a very important factor for technology industry.
The renewable power in Negros is a combination of geothermal, solar and bio-mass, Benitez said. “We are pushing for renewable energy, in fact, Negros Island would claim it has the most number of megawatts of renewable energy,” he added.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said yesterday that the power summit may be held next month, in order to study the best approaches to utilize the surplus in power.
Diaz said that all the renewable power being generated in Negros Island is being distributed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines all over the country.*
