WASHINGTON CONTINUES to support the efforts of the Philippine government to promote renewable energy with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressing the importance of investing in clean energy as he cited the Philippines’ increasing vulnerability to the dangerous effects of climate change.
Blinken, who was in Manila recently, also highlighted the
United States’ clean energy commitments to the Philippines at an expo featuring
small- and medium-sized renewable energy companies where he lauded the projects
of six renewable energy companies specializing in biomass, hydropower, solar,
wind, energy efficiency, and off-grid solutions.
He said last year, the Philippines announced an ambitious
clean energy goal - to produce 35% of the country’s energy from renewable
sources by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
“The United States commends these goals, and we’re committed
to helping the Philippines achieve them,” he said.
Blinken, alongside Philippine Ambassador to the United
States Jose Manuel Romualdez and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay
Carlson, also witnessed the signing of a grant awarded by the U.S. Trade and
Development Agency (USTDA) to Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. for a feasibility study
to develop one of the first offshore wind projects in the Philippines. This
project is expected to produce up to three gigawatts of clean energy, providing
power to more than two million households.
“USTDA is committed to delivering game-changing projects to
close the infrastructure gap and support the clean energy transition in the
Philippines,” said USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong. “Our assistance will be critical toward
defining the wind projects’ technical and design options, as well as
structuring deals for international financial institutions. Our goal is the delivery of clean energy to
millions of Filipinos.”
“The United States remains a steadfast partner and supporter
of emerging economies like the Philippines in facilitating job creation and
building of a high quality and environment friendly energy infrastructures that
support initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change,” Romualdez
said.
Blinken cited several projects aimed at supporting energy
security in the Philippines. This
includes the United States Agency for International Development’s Energy Secure
Philippines Initiative, a 5-year project worth $34 million (P1.89 billion) that
aims to mobilize more than $750 million (P41.8 billion) of private-sector
investment to support up to 500 megawatts of new clean energy generation.
He also noted the Clean Energy Demand Initiative and U.S.-Philippines
Memorandum of Understanding on Civil-Nuclear Cooperation signed in March 2022
and announced ongoing capacity building assistance to help the Philippines
explore nuclear energy options through the Foundational Infrastructure for
Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology program.
The Philippines is an initial partner of the U.S.-led
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a group of 13 countries across the
region that are committed to promoting clean energy and decarbonization as a
key pillar of a stronger, fairer, and more resilient economy.
Blinken recognized the contributions of several
public-private partnerships with the Philippines under the IPEF’s Clean Energy,
Decarbonization, and Infrastructure Pillar, which includes the Clean Energy
Demand Initiative, the Geothermal Development Initiative, and the Energy
Resource Governance Initiative that will strengthen mining sector governance
for resilient mineral supply chains. (Mindanao Examiner)
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