Greenpeace, solons switch on solar-powered Christmas tree

Environment watchdog Greenpeace Philippines, joined by lawmakers who sponsored the renewable energy bill, lit a solar-powered 12-foot-tall Christmas tree on Wednesday near the session hall of the House of Representatives in Quezon City. Greenpeace campaign director Von Hernandez said they hope to call attention to senators to act on the renewable energy bill, which the House had already passed on third and final reading last September 19. "As we all know, this bill has been languishing in the Senate and this has not been moving fast enough. We want to convey our wishes for the senators to fast track its approval (by lighting this Christmas tree)," said Hernandez. "Our society’s excessive preoccupation with politics is regrettably diverting us from acting on these major environmental trends now undermining our future. The passage of the RE (renewable energy) bill is of paramount importance," he added. Jasper Inventor, climate and energy campaigner of Greenpeace, said that the 800 Christmas lights put in front of Congress’ session hall lobby can be lit up to a maximum of eight hours each day. On Tuesday, Greenpeace also featured a solar-powered café where actress Chin Chin Gutierrez, one of TIME magazine’s Asian heroes in 2003, served coffee to House members. Representatives Nereus Acosta of Bukidnon and Lorenzo Tanada III of Quezon, co-authors of the bill, joined the Christmas tree lighting and expressed support for the use of renewable energy to combat climate change. The Christmas tree is linked to solar panels that can store up to 80 watts of powerthrough four "deep cycle" batteries that that give the lights’ needed 220 volts. Each solar panel costs P145,000. Inventor explained that once the solar power has been consumed, a processor in the inverter "automatically shifts" the solar power line back to the Meralco power so the lights don’t have to be interrupted. Thirty-two pupils from Multiple Intelligence International School in Quezon City joined the lighting. Inventor explained that once the solar power has been consumed, a processor in the inverter "automatically shifts" the solar power line back to Meralco power. -GMANews.TV