Lawyer Larry Gadon, who is running for a seat in the Senate for the second time, inaccurately claimed that the biggest wind energy producer in Southeast Asia is in Ilocos Norte.
STATEMENT
During the March 2 senatorial debate, Gadon cited wind farming and water turbines as viable means to push renewable energy sources development in the country. Without citing a specific windmill project, he said:
“Alam ninyo iyong project na in-initiate ni Bongbong Marcos doon sa Ilocos Norte? Iyong windmill power source? Iyan ang pinakamalaking windmill energy producer in Southeast Asia. So dapat kopyahin natin iyon. Ipalaganap natin iyon.”
(Do you know the project initiated by Bongbong Marcos in Ilocos Norte? The windmill power source? It is the largest windmill energy producer in Southeast Asia. So we have to copy that. Let’s replicate that.)
Source: SMNI News, What legislations will you propose to accelerate the development of renewables?, March 2, 2022, watch from 7:03 to 7:23
FACT
Contrary to Gadon’s claim, Vietnam has at least three wind farms with higher power generation capacity than the biggest wind farm in the Philippines, the Burgos Wind Power Project in Ilocos Norte.
The Ea Nam Wind Power Plant, the largest wind farm in Vietnam completed in November 2021, can generate a maximum of 400 megawatts compared to the 150 megawatts installed capacity of the Burgos wind project. Installed capacity refers to the maximum amount of electricity that a power plant can produce, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
Two other wind projects in Vietnam, the Trungnam Wind Farm and the B&T; wind power farm cluster, have 151.95 megawatts and 252 megawatts installed capacity, respectively.
As of December 2021, data from the DOE show that the Philippines has seven wind power plants eligible to sell power to electric suppliers. Of the seven, three are in Ilocos Norte: the Bangui Bay Wind Power Project (phase 3), Caparispisan Wind Power Project, and the Burgos wind project.
The Bangui Bay Wind Power Project by the NorthWind Power Development Corp. was the first-ever wind farm in Southeast Asia following the construction of its first of four phases in 2005. The project, which received funding from the World Bank, was built when Marcos Jr. was governor of Ilocos Norte from 1998 to 2007.
The Caparispisan Wind Power Project by the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation and the Burgos Wind Power Project by the EDC Burgos Wind Power Project began commercial operations in 2014.
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Sources
SMNI, SMNI, What legislations will you propose to accelerate the development of renewables?, March 2, 2022 March 2, 2022
Trung Nam Group, Ea Nam Wind Power Plant, Accessed March 9, 2022
Vietnam Electricity, Power Transmission Company No.3 provides technical support to complete the 500kV power line project connecting the largest wind power plant in Vietnam, Aug. 15, 2021
Trung Nam Group, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS ACCOMPANIED WITH EA NAM – DAK LAK 400MW WIND POWER PROJECT, Nov.6, 2021
First Gen, Burgos wind project, Accessed March 9, 2022
Department of Energy, DOE MONTHLY POWER SITUATION REPORT – 1st Half 2016, Accessed March 9, 2022
Trung Nam Group, Trungnam Wind Farm, Accessed March 9, 2022
Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade, B&T; wind power farm cluster, Nov. 17, 2021
Department of Energy, ELIGIBLE RE POWER PLANTS FOR RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS (RPS) COMPLIANCE FOR ON-GRID AND OFF-GRID AREAS as of December 31, 2021, Dec. 31, 2021
Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, Renewable Energy Market, Accessed March 9, 2022
World Bank, Bangui Bay Wind Power Project, Accessed March 9, 2022
North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation, Caparispisan Wind Power Project, Accessed March 9, 2022
World Wide Fund for Nature, Southeast Asia’s first wind farm launched, June 18, 2005
Department of Energy, AWARDED WIND PROJECTS as of 31 MAY 2021, May 31, 2021
Senate of the Philippines, Bio of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Accessed March 9, 2022
Asian Development Bank, Burgos Wind Power Project, Accessed March 9, 2022
(Guided by the code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, VERA Files tracks the false claims, flip-flops, misleading statements of public officials and figures, and debunks them with factual evidence. Find out more about this initiative and our methodology.)
