WHAT'S Christmas without the lights? Isaiah 9:2 puts the situation this way: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.”
With the birth of Jesus Christ, a great light shone in the darkness. John 8:12 quoted Jesus: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
But we also have something to celebrate for Christmas 2016, well that Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) should take note. Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres Liner buses, recently signed a one-megawatt solar power contract with UpGrade Energy Philippines.
The agreement said that VTI will put up a 500-kilowatt solar roof at the Ceres compound, and 150-kW panel at the Ceres North Terminal in Barangay Bata. The facility will be operational in March 2017. This is the first and largest solar roof in the province. Wow!
Will other transportation companies follow suit? Hello, Bredco!
UpGrade said solar power source is best for companies that have a high day time use. “This will cost only about a P1 per kilowatt hour. These installations will be the largest solar roofs in the province which plays host to the almost half of all solar farms in the country.”
VTI is strengthening Negros Occidental as the country’s solar capital.
The solar roof is expected to significantly reduce Vallacar’s electricity consumption and dependence on Ceneco. The total capacity of the solar roofs will offset about 190,000 kWh a year in Ceres North Terminal and about 650,000 kWh a year in their Mansilingan compound.
Well, that’s the goal. Last month, Ceneco president Arnel Lapore said Ceneco is eyeing a power supply agreement with PEDC once its 64-megawatt base load contract with Kepco-Salcon Power Corp. expires in 2021. In this era of climate change, that’s a weird thing to do.
That’s a virtual slap on the faces of Negrenses who want to contribute to the global campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Thank you, the Yanson sibs. You are environmentally-aware citizens. They’re showing the way to corporate social responsibility in addressing ecological concerns.
A green light will shine in the province. It will not come from the electric power of Ceneco. VTI is the star light of Christmas that beckons to other companies to follow its example.
Merry Christmas to all!
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(bqsanc@yahoo.com)