Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Bill No. 5711
Introduced by Honorable Roilo Golez
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to establish a Philippine Solar Initiative Commission to aid in conserving solar energy to be utilized by the country.
According to scientist, solar energy (sun power) – the energy from sunlight striking the earth for forty (40) minutes is equivalent to the global energy consumption for a whole year. Every second the sun sends THIRTY MILLION (30,000,000) megawatts of emission free energy to the earth; that is, TEN THOUSAND (10,000) times more than the world’s primary energy consumption today.
Solar energy can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity. It can be converted to electricity in two ways. One is Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells” – change sunlight directly into electricity. PV systems are often used in remote locations that are not connected to the electric grid. They are also used to power watches, calculators, and lighted road signs. The other is through Solar Power Plants - indirectly generate electricity when the heat from solar thermal collectors is used to heat a fluid which produces steam that is used to power generators. Out of the 15 known solar electric generating units operating in the United States at the end of 2006, 10 of these are in California and 5 in Arizona. No statistics are being collected on solar plants that produce less than 1 megawatt of electricity, so there may be smaller solar plants in a number of other states.
According to Ray Kurzweil, a world renowned scientist, solar energy is an information technology that is experiencing exponential growth. Solar energy production has doubled every year for the last twenty (20) years and is now only 8 doublings (that is about 8 years!) from providing nearly all of the world’s energy needs. The implications of this trend are huge and warrant careful consideration for the environment, investment, politics, etc.
The price of photovoltaic (pv) solar power panels has dropped TWO HUNDRED PERCENT (200%) over the last 30 years. Owners now pay between 10 to 40c per kilowatt hour.
The United States has now made steps to use sun power and use it to provide energy to homes and businesses. The U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman announced that the U.S. solar energy initiative is designed to make solar technology cost effective by 2015. They will spend $170 million during a three-year period for cost-shared, public-private partnerships to advance solar energy technology. This move is part of the Solar America Initiative.
In fact there are existing solar energy stores engaged in producing and distributing solar energy in Florida, the Carolinas, Texas and in other states in America.
A solar energy company in San Diego, California took the wraps off a 10-megawatt solar farm, small by industry standards but the ramifications are potentially huge because it is enough to light SIX THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED (6, 400) homes. A veteran analyst has calculated that the facility can produce power at a cost of 7.5 cents a kilowatt-hour, less than 9-cent benchmark for conventional electricity.
California’s solar energy policy: In 2004, 10.2 percent of all electricity came from renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and small hydroelectric facilities. Solar provided 495 GWh in 2006 (or 97.85% of US generation from solar).
In Germany: In 2007, renewable sources provided 87.5 TWh (including 23.7% large hydro) or 14.2% of total gross electricity consumption. That is, excluding large hydro, 10.8% of electricity came from renewable sources in 2007, 3.5% from PV. They target 12.5% of total electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2010. Germany surpassed this target in 2007 and is considering raising its 20% by 2020 target to 27% by 2020. For the long term, a government study has suggested the feasibility of 45% by 2030 and 77% by 2050.
Solar energy distribution is different in each country since it depends in the location, time of day, time of year, and weather condition of the place. It is converted from the heat of the sun striking the earth. The Philippines regularly has twelve (12) hours day time and six (6) months sunny season where there is plenty of sunlight. The Philippines can utilize this blessing of nature to provide its constituents sufficient service in terms of energy needs.
Solar energy is free, and its supplies are unlimited. It is not only possible but eminently practical, not to mention more environmentally friendly.
Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
ROILO GOLEZ
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Bill No. 5711
Introduced by Honorable Roilo Golez
AN ACT
CREATING PHILIPPINE SOLAR INITIATIVE COMMISSION
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Session assembled:
SECTION 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as “The Philippine Solar Initiative Commission Act of 2009”.
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby the policy of the State to free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.
The state also aims to achieve energy independence and to intensify renewable energy resource development to achieve economic growth.
SECTION 3. Definition. For purposes of this Act, the following term shall have the corresponding meaning:
a) “Commission” shall refer to the Philippine Solar Initiative Commission;
b) The “Chairman” shall refer to the Philippine Solar Initiative Commission Chairman;
c) Solar energy – refers to the energy coming from the heat of the sun
d) Photovoltaic (PV) - (photo=light, voltaics=electricity) is a semiconductor-based technology which converts light energy directly into an electric current.
SECTION 4. Objectives. - Philippine Solar Initiative Commission (PSIC). – The Philippine Solar Initiative Commission shall refer to the agency in charge of systematically determining an appropriate model and method in conserving solar energy to aid and promote national development which has the following objectives:
a) To enhance the efficient use of solar energy;
b) To strengthen and assist the government in the economic and social service specially in solar energy initiative plan and policy;
c) To issue rules and regulations in assuring the implementation of this act;
d) To represent the government in all meetings and conferences concerning solar energy; and
e) To recommend possible legislation, policies and programs concerning conservation and utilization of solar energy
SECTION 5. Creation and Qualifications of Philippine Solar Initiative Commission (PSIC) Chairman and Commissioners. – The Commission shall be an attached agency of the Department of Energy.
The Commission shall be headed by a Chairman and five (5) Commissioners. One (1) of the Commissioners shall be from Department of Environment and Natural Resources and another one (1) from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA).
The Chairman and majority of the Commissioners, who must be citizens of the Philippines, holders of College Degree and who must have an expertise on solar energy, at least thirty-five years of age at the time of their appointment and must not have been candidates for any elective positions in the immediately preceding elections, shall be appointed by President.
The Commission shall be organized within sixty (60) days from the date of approval of this Act.
SECTION 6. – Powers and Functions of the Commission. – The Commission shall have the following powers and functions:
a) To facilitate installation of solar energy saving devices such as solar power plants;
b) To provide and create advance technology to conserve solar energy;
c) To administer research and development projects related to solar energy;
d) To oversee and coordinate national and local programs to develop PV markets;
e) To issue and regulate policies to promote PV in the country both at the national and local levels;
f) To raise and receive funds and donations in support of the solar energy programs;
g) To regulate PV distribution; and
h) To formulate and recommend a Solar Energy Investment Initiative and Venture Capital Program
SECTION 7. - Funding. – The amount of FIVE HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (Php500,000,000) is hereby appropriated for initial implementation of this Act. Provided, that the Commission may generate other sources of funding such as loans, grants and donations, subject to pertinent laws and regulations.
SECTION 8. – Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, ordinances or pats thereof, inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 9. – Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
Approved.
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