Oro councilor wants city to harness solar power

Sunstar Cagayan de Oro
Monday, December 14, 2015
By ALWEN SALIRING

CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. is pushing for the use of solar power as an alternative source of energy to minimize dependence from power supplied by private power distributors like the Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light Company (Cepalco).
Lao, chairman of the energy committee in the City Council, said he would start pushing for the proposal next year with the aim of eventually declaring Cagayan de Oro as a solar city.
“Para ma-minimize nato atong pag-dependent sa supply from Cepalco and atong environment dili ma-destroy and dili risky sa health sa tawo kay this is clean energy,” Lao said.
Lao said investing in solar power may be initially expensive but would turn out to be advantageous in the long run.
He said a solar panel costs some P35,000 but a panel can supply 500 kilowatt (kw) power, enough to power household appliances.
“Medyo mahal at first pero after five years ma-enjoy na nimo ang gi-invest nga wala na kay laing gastuhon or bayran,” Lao said.
Lao said the City Government should become a model in adopting the use of solar power to encourage the people to shift to cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy.
Lao said the City Government is paying about P24 million to Cepalco a year or P2 million per month but if the city shifts to solar power, the city could save the said amount and use this for the provision of services instead.
“Gagamit man gani ang Cepalco og solar nga sila ga-distribute sa power unsa na lang kaha kita. Mas maka-save pa ang city and magamit ang kwarta ibayaray sa Cepalco to other services sa katawhan,” Lao said.
If most of the people from commercial and residential also shift to solar power, Lao said, Cepalco could no longer claim power deficits since consumers’ power needs would also drop.
“Dili na sila pirmi kaingon nga duna shortage aron ma-justify increase sa power wala naman silay i-demand if consumers adopt solar energy,” Lao said. source
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on December 15, 2015.