New coal plant opposed

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—A “silent majority” of residents of Sual town in Pangasinan province are opposing the construction of another coal-fired power plant in their midst, saying they town already had enough pollution.

“Coal-fired plants are the dirtiest source of energy,” former Vice Mayor Alexander Rigonan said, referring to the proposed $1-billion (P47 billion) power plant to be built by Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp.  in the coastal village of Baquioen.

The new facility is projected to generate 900 megawatts (MW) of power for the Luzon grid. It is just a stone’s throw away from Team Energy’s 1,200-MW coal-fired power plant in Barangay Pangascasan.

Mayor Roberto Arcinue has given the go-signal for the project last year. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon