Butuan City is gearing up for a cleaner energy future by developing large-scale solar projects and introducing electric tricycles as part of its long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
A 13-megawatt-peak solar project is expected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026, while plans are underway for a 15-megawatt flood-resilient solar farm and rooftop solar panels on the city government building, the Butuan City Public Information Office said.
The initiatives are part of the Butuan City Energy Development Plan 2023-2050, which aims to promote renewable energy use and help the city achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The projects were presented during the third-quarter meeting of the Butuan City Development Council-Institutional Development Sector Working Committee (BCDC-IDSWC) on Wednesday.
The city’s sustainability agenda includes pilot testing 17 electric tricycles, as local officials explore cleaner, more efficient alternatives for public transportation.
The energy and transport initiatives are among the city’s long-term development programs discussed during the meeting chaired by Dr. Victor Emmanuel Ozarraga, head of the BCDC-IDSWC.