A new law signed Friday
establishes a regulatory framework for Palau’s energy sector and a concrete
commitment of the country to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel and encourage
more use of renewable energy sources.
RPPL 9-54 or the Palau Energy Act creates a comprehensive
national framework to improve energy security in Palau.
It establishes an Energy Administration that will be tasked
with monitoring all energy-related matters in Palau, advising energy-related
agencies like the Palau Public Utilities Corporation and the Office of
Environmental Response and Coordination on matters of energy sector policy and
educating the public on energy-related matters.The new law is also aimed at helping Palau reach its climate
change target, and reduce localized pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the law, the Energy Administration will set standards
for different categories of renewable energy providers and provide the
necessary oversight for independent power producers to develop renewable energy
projects.
The Energy Administration will also be responsible for the
development of energy efficiency programs in accordance with the objectives of
the National Energy Policy.
President Tommy Remengesau, in his transmittal letter to the
Palau Congress said in the wake of the resulting agreement reached during the
2015 Paris Climate Change Conference, he is pleased to sign the bill.
He said the new law, “not only reaffirms Palau’s commitment
to meeting the renewable energy reliance and reduced emission pledges made at
COP21, but also provides the means and direction for achieving those important
goals.”
The Paris agreement negotiated by nearly 200 nations, including
Palau, sets the goal of limiting the world’s rise in average temperature to
“well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts
to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”
Palau is aiming to lead in renewable energy use in the
Pacific with the target of a 45 percent renewable-energy shift by 2025.
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