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Home » Energy & Environment » Energy Sector » Expanded use of cleaner fuels
CLEAN CITIES
- The Sustainable Energy Development Project (SEDP)
BACKGROUND
Countries around the world are searching for cleaner energy sources, especially in the transport sector. The need to reduce dependence on imported fuel oil, the threat of global warming and poor air quality prompted the United States Department of Energy (USDOE) to develop the Clean Cities Program. This program aims to advance and encourage transport groups to use alternative and domestic energy sources. The Philippines Department of Energy (PDOE) hopes to duplicate successful approaches by designing a Clean Cities Program for the Philippines.
PARTNERS
This program is in partnership with Departments of Energy, Transport, Environment, Trade, Health, and Finance; Chambers of Commerce; NGOs and the Academe.
CLEANER ENERGY FOR TRANSPORT
The growing concerns on the continuous deterioration in air quality prompted the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to enact the Clean Air Act in 1999. In support of the law, the PDOE embarked on an Alternative Fuels and Technology Program that aims to achieve energy supply security, reliability and affordability and fuel diversification, while meeting environmental challenges. USAID, through the Clean Cities International Program, supports the DOE to create public and private sector partnerships to increase awareness of sources and harmful effects of air pollution and to promote alternative, indigenous and cleanfuels for transport such as the compressed natural gas, bio-diesel, liquefied petroleum gas and possibly fuel cells and hydrogen.
A highly visible activity is promoting the use of coco methyl ester (CME), a bio-diesel fuel blend that not only helps reduce air pollution but also supports the economic development of poverty stricken coconut farmers. Technical assistance focuses on identifying transport fleets, formulating policies and evaluating infrastructure requirements and constraints for retrofit and/or use of original manufactured engine equipment for alternate vehicle fuels. SEDP will also help to implement the Clean Cities roadmap that includes identifying champions, consulting with key stakeholders and sharing information to encourage the local government units, private sector and NGOs in each pilot city to accelerate the use of alternative fuels.
USAID benefits from the expertise of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) which provides technical advice, share testing techniques and mentors PDOE staff to ensure the standards and quality of the alternative fuels. USAID also supports the participation of government staff and other stakeholders to international conferences and fora to exchange best practices as well as lessons learned.
Operating under the guidance of the Clean Cities International, the Philippines Clean Cities Program brings together stakeholders driven by the objective of cleaner air for a cleaner environment. Pilot cities under this program include Baguio City, Davao City, and Metro Manila.
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