Green group to campaign for clean energy

Monday, January 23, 2012


CADIZ City -- A new green group, now in its final stage of formation, will soon be launched to lead the advocacy for the use of renewable energy or what the group calls clean energy.


Francisco Puey, a Negrense businessman, a staunch advocate of clean and renewable energy systems, and the chief facilitator of the Clean and Renewable Energy Movement for Ecological Integrity (Creme), said his team is now in Cadiz and Sagay areas exploring some private spring and biomass sources for development to clean and renewable energy to supply public utilities and communities.


Puey said the group will spearhead the promotion, utilization and development of clean energy like solar, wind, hydro and biomass power in Negros and elsewhere.


“The threat of a power crisis in the next two to five years is not just a product of speculative minds of certain government officials and policy makers but a real one which, if not addressed soon and decisively, will only make us all sorry,” said Puey.


“We are happy that the government is making some stirring on the use of clean and renewable energy systems, but it has to be backed by a critical mass, by all sectors, so that it will not remain as lip service and media hype but will be translated into viable development program,” Puey stressed.


Comprised initially of green activists, engineers, scientists, academicians, young professionals and entrepreneurs, Creme “will not only wage advocacy of motherhood statements and promotional activities on clean and renewable energy but will undertake researches, conceptualization, prototyping and development of systems appropriate for the resource base and needs of Negros and other specific areas,” Puey said.


“Advocacy statements are good and necessary in raising awareness of people but we will go as far as putting up concrete, appropriate and viable alternative systems, utilizing the scientific skills of our engineers, scientists and technical people, in combination with the indigenous knowledge of our basic communities,” Puey said.


He added that their group will be putting up a research and documentation team to undertake technical and feasibility studies.


But more than this, Puey said Creme will also advocate for the rehabilitation and protection of the environment because energy technology systems, no matter how beautiful and efficient, will be nothing when the environment continues to be plundered and ravaged by certain vested interest groups and companies.


“We can be hypocrites in advocating for clean and renewable energy systems without taking a firm and clear stand on what others are doing against our environment,” Puey concluded.


Puey said that Creme will be launched soon in Bacolod City. (Karl G. Ombion)


Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on January 23, 2012.