BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental endorsed the 150-megawatt (MW) solar farm project to be constructed at the boundary of Bacolod and Bago cities.
Negros Occidental Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, Committee on Environment chairperson, confirmed the endorsement yesterday.
The project would be in a 133.7-hectare area covering the boundaries of Barangay Tabunan in Bago City and Barangay Felisa in Bacolod City.
Negros PH Solar Inc. sought the favorable endorsement of the SP last year.
The firm secured around 109 hectares of land through long-term lease agreements.
The solar farm would then be connected to the power grid through a 5-kilometer transmission line connecting to the Mansilingan substation in Bacolod City.
The land has been appropriately zoned and key documents, including the Solar Energy Service Contract, Confirmation of Commerciality and grid connection agreements, were in place.
Ko said the project has yet to secure an endorsement from the council of Barangay Felisa; however, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has already given it a nod.
The solar farm would benefit communities and also provide additional tax revenues to the two city governments, Ko added./PN