Escalante: Solar power is the best source of energy we could give

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr. recently stated, despite the New People’s Army (NPA) being eyed as the prime suspect behind last week’s raid on the solar energy farm in Barangay Tinampa-an, Cadiz City, he claims the rebel group is not responsible for the incident.

He said, as a prerequisite to an attack, the NPA issues a demand letter first, which usually requests payments to a “revolutionary tax.”

Escalante believes other lawless elements were the likely culprits.

However, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, Jr., previously noted, the company in charge of the solar farm reportedly refused to give-in to demands made by the rebel group.

Meanwhile, in response to critics of the power plant, claiming it would have a negative impact on the environment and the health of residents living near the facility, the former Cadiz City mayor defended solar power.

“That’s the best source of energy we could give to the residents of the province,” he declared.

International reports regarding solar power have cited those living near solar plants have experienced issues with noise, reflective glare, threats to the local bird population, the occupation of wide swaths of potential farmland, problems with the overall aesthetic, among other issues.

Last week, suspected NPA rebels attacked the Helios Solar Energy Corporation solar energy farm, resulting in the damage of at least 90 solar panels, worth around P2.25 million.

The said installation is considered as the largest solar energy farm in Southeast Asia./DGB, WDJ