DOE urged to prioritize environment in expanding power projects

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental advocates of Protect VIP — a network that focuses on safeguarding the Verde Island Passage (VIP) marine corridor — have urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to exercise caution in its expansion of power generation projects in the marine biodiversity hotspot. 

In a statement on Friday, Protect VIP warned of the potential social and environmental impacts of pursuing more power projects, including the destruction of marine resources and decline in fish catch in areas near existing and new gas facilities.

The group’s appeal comes after the DOE's clearance of 175 power generation projects for system impact studies (SIS) in 2023, with the largest being the 3,038-megawatt (MW) NOM FL1 offshore wind farm by Vind Energy Corp. in Batangas and Occidental Mindoro.

Fr. Edwin Gariguez, the lead convenor of Protect VIP, acknowledged the government's strides in promoting renewable energy in response to the climate crisis. However, he stressed the necessity of a balanced approach, saying: "We note that the energy transition needs not come at the expense of key biodiversity hotspots and the communities residing in them."

Gariguez emphasized the need for meticulous impact studies and screening of proposed projects by the DOE, pointing out potential risks associated with unchecked expansion.

He also cited a 2023 study by the Climate Analytics Institute that suggested that the Philippines could transition to a 100% renewable energy-based power sector while safeguarding key biodiversity and protected areas.

The DOE's list of power generation projects endorsed for SIS in the previous year included 13 wind and solar projects totaling nearly 7,000 MW in VIP provinces. 

Gariguez highlighted the importance of protecting marine and coastal environments, cautioning against potential impacts such as water contamination, noise pollution, bird strikes, and increased turbidity of coastal waters during construction.

Gerry Arances, executive director of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), and co-convenor of Protect VIP, emphasized that the energy transition should prioritize the well-being of both people and the environment.

“The country’s shift to a power sector fully powered by renewables can be designed in a manner that prevents potential repercussions while facilitating the empowerment of communities and preservation of critical ecosystems - such as through developing decentralized and community-based renewables,” Arances said.

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The VIP is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and is home to a variety of species such as whale sharks, sea turtles, and an impressive array of corals. The strait also hosts over 300 coral species, underwater rock canyons and reef formations, and 60% of all known shore fish species in the world within a ten-kilometer area.

In 2023, oil spill from the sunken motor tanker Princess Empress in Oriental Mindoro reached Verde Island, stoking concerns from advocates that the polluted waters could affect one of the country's primary marine reserves.