04 January 2016 – While exploring renewable energy opportunities in Vermont, Philippine Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. met with Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) Executive Director Scott Johnstone, accompanied by Director of Policy and Public Affairs Karen Glitman, and Principal Consultant and Business Development Leader Cristina Donovan; and then with Northern Reliability Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer Jay Bellows and Chief Operating Officer Charles Van Winkle. Both Vermont-based companies are innovators and employ cutting-edge technology in renewable energy (RE).
Consul General De Leon renewable energy is a topic of great interest to the Philippines, particularly geothermal, solar and wind energy as it aims to lessen its dependence on oil and coal-based energy by diversifying its mix of energy sources.
According to Ms. Glitman, Vermont is the number one state in the U.S. in terms of per capita use of RE, with some 16,000 homeowners connected to clean energy and RE sources.
Consul General De Leon explained the system of distribution of electricity in the Philippines and cited the challenges posed by high electric costs – the Philippines having one of the highest electricity rates in Southeast Asia – which is a dampener for both investment and in reviving manufacturing in the country. He noted, however, that Philippine geothermal use is the 2nd largest in the world next to California.
Mr. Johnstone underscored that a shift to a RE program is achievable in a short span of time by sending a strong policy signal backed by clear, national regulations, setting concrete markers that the industry must adhere to, instituting strong policies and a compliance date supported by local legislation, creating incentives for customers, and attracting private investment.
After his meeting with VEIC, Consul General met with Mr. Bellows and Mr. Van Winkle of Northern Reliability (NR). Mr. Van Winkle told the Consul General that he sees significant potential for RE in the Philippines because of the amount of sunlight in the country and the many applications for battery storage technology in the country, i.e. for disaster preparedness and use in remote islands, and to power wifi and communication.
VEIC, established in 1986, is a respected leader in the design and implementation of efficient energy services in the U.S. It offers utility management as well as design and delivery consultations for renewable energy services. It has the distinction of being the first U.S. energy efficient utility with clients in New Jersey, Canada, UK, Ireland, Canada, the Carribean, China, Nepal, Tibet, Tanzania and South Africa.
Northern Reliability (NR), a 30-year old company in Vermont, is a pioneer and innovator in power grids, RE installations, and energy storage used in disaster preparedness, among other services. END