More firms prefer renewable energy for their power needs

A hospital in Batangas and a luxury resort in Cagayan have added their names to a growing list of companies seeking to reduce carbon footprint by signing up for renewable energy sources for their electricity supply.

Energy Development Corp. said in a statement Mary Mediatrix Medical Center (MMCC) in Lipa City signed up for a two-year contract for one megawatt of geothermal power.

The Lopez group-led EDC said the electricity for the hospital would be provided by BacMan Geothermal Inc., which operates power plants in Albay.

“This contract symbolizes our commitment not only to our partnership but also to our environment,” said Robert Magsino, MMMC chief executive and president.

“Not only will we be able to generate substantial savings through this initiative, but we will still be able to deliver high quality healthcare services to our patients without compromise,” Magsino said.

In a separate statement, Citicore Power Inc. said it signed with Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort—which operates a hotel and casino complex in Cagayan province—a retail power supply contract, which will be coursed through Citicore Energy Solutions Inc.

The contract works under the retail competition and open access program, whereby a retail electricity supplier caters to “contestable” markets or those that are allowed by regulators to choose suppliers other than the incumbent distributors in their areas, provided that their demand falls within a minimum.

The program allows large electricity consumers in Luzon and Visayas with an average monthly peak demand of at least 1 MW to choose their power supplier.