Construction of a 300-megawatt solar power plant in Labrador, Pangasinan is set to begin after agencies concerned have approved the project’s papers. 

The project is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2025 and will be built on a 271-hectare portion of a part of the mountain in Barangay Bolo.

The construction is expected to last 14 months.

According to Mayor Ernesto Acain, the project will help stabilize the electricity supply and increase the annual income of the town.

The plant is projected to earn P13.7 million annually, to be shared among the barangay, municipality, and province.

“Para aasenso ang bayan. Alam niyo naman ang taxes [and] ang lifeblood in running the municipality, kaya ‘yan pinayagan namin kaagad,” Acain said.

Citing the Department of Energy (DOE), Acain said the town is suitable for a solar power plant.

“Suitable ang Labrador para sa solar power dahil ayon sa DOE (Department of Energy), pinpoint[ed] ang Labrador na dito ang may pinakamalakas na radiation para sa solar power plant,” Acain said.

TREES

However, during the town council session, concerns were raised about the plan to cut trees at the area where the plant will be built. 

Councilor Mona Liza Asis said interventions have to be put in place.

“May gagawin ba tayong mitigation kasi knowing [na] napakainit ng panahon ngayon at tatanggalin natin ang lahat ng puno, may posibilidad pa na tumaas ang heat index,” she said.

In response, the project developer said not all trees in the area will be affected by the project and they will plant 10 trees for every tree cut down.

“May mitigation measures, may tree cutting permit, and as prerequisite sa tree cutting permit, kailangan mag-tree planting,” Kyle Guevarra, Project Coordinator, said.

The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) is yet to confirm this as of this writing.