Quote Originally Posted by vinj View Post
Actually talks of a looming power crisis has been around for several years already. That's why you have the big companies such as Aboitiz, Ayala, First Pacific, SMC, etc. scrambling for power generation contracts since the GMA days.
Yup. We haven't had a massive investment in power infrastructure since Ramos. And if we go on a Ramos style spending binge, that will just mean we'll be paying for more expensive power, as we'll be saying "Yes" to a lot of overpriced supply contracts.

It's not like the administration is doing nothing. They're reviewing the plans to increase grid power, but the arguments are about what percentage of that power will be renewable. I remember watching an ANC panel discussion late last year in which they talked about the difficulty of opening up new power generation plants.

1. Bataan is still too politicized, especially after Fukushima.

2. Wind, lack of suitable sites close to big population centers.

3. Solar, expensive. Last I hear they've cut back MW projections for solar by over 60% because of this.

4. Hydro-... we are already heavily invested in this, thus a lack of new sites to set up stations.

5. Geothermal, too politicized. You have to go into mountains where there are disputes over land use with native tribes and environmentalists, and then you'll have to find a way to run lines through rebel country.

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It's a difficult task. In the end, we might have to build more coal plants, which nobody really wants but which we can't afford to live without.