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Philippines: green light for energy law

Alexander Richter 17 Dec 2008

A new Renewable Energy Law was signed by President Arroyo on December 16, 2008. It provides mechanisms to harness "green" fuel and in the process attract some of the US$80 billion renewable investments to be made in the next ten years.

A new Renewable Energy Law was signed by President Arroyo on December 16, 2008. It provides mechanisms to harness “green” fuel and in the process attract some of the US$80 billion renewable investments to be made in the next ten years.

The new law will help the Philippines to “capture a part of this investment flow, and this is also timely because it mitigates climate change,” President Arroyo said. She continued to say that as “the world’s second largest geothermal power producer, the country has the highest wind potential power in the world, there is also high solar power penetration, abundant hydropower and biomass resources.”

Through the new law, the government can save as much as 60 billion Philippine pesos (around US$ 1.2 billion) a year. The Energy Department’s medium-term renewable energy policy framework aims to develop more than 4,000 MW of additional renewable energy capacity, some 1,200 MW of which will come from geothermal sources. The law further encourages the grant of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to investors. These incentives will include tax credits and tax holidays.

Source: Manila Standard