1st July 2011 Green Power Nueva Ecija Philippines Inc. have completed their Geotechnical Engineering and Investigation of the biomass power plant site in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija on the Island of Luzon in the Philippines. The subsurface Geotechnical Investigation proves the suitability of the site for the construction and operation of the 35 Megawatt multi-fuelled power plant on the seven hectare site.
Green Power Nueva Ecija Philippines Inc received authority and construction permits in 2011 from the Local Government Unit the Municipality of San Leonardo. The project has been awarded the necessary Department of Energy Renewable Energy Certificate and Board of Investments incentives under the Renewable Energy Act of the Philippines in 2010 along with their Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of the Environment and National Resources. The company now awaits the Energy Regulatory Commissions approval of the Feed-in-Tariff that was submitted by the National Renewable Energy Board to commence final planning, construction and operation. The FiT rate is expected to be approved by the ERC in August 2011.
The plant will deliver an estimated 3,400 jobs to the local area whilst delivering Php 880,000,000:00 ($USD 20 Million) annually to the local community through biomass purchases, transportation and additional services to the multi-fueled biomass power plant. The biomass power plant will use agricultural wastes and food processing wastes that are currently either burnt openly in the fields causing carbon dioxide of left to rot causing methane, both Green House Gasses that significantly contribute towards Climate Change. The company is in the process of applying to the United Nations Framework Commission on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to avail of incentives under the Kyoto Protocol that will facilitate the projects realization. The project will displace fossil fuel generation and in so doing reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 126,161:00 tonnes per year.
The power plant significantly exceeds the Philippines National emissions standards as well as the World Bank and International Finance Corporations international emissions standards clearly showing the Companies commitment to clean, renewable energy that delivers significant socio-economic development.