Greenpeace, the international environmental group fighting against global warming, would appeal to Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERCs) in different states to promote use of renewable energy for protection of environment and public health.“At least ten per cent of the electricity consumed in different states should be procured from renewable energy sources like wind energy and solar energy and ERCs should ensure that,” the energy campaigner of Greenpeace, India, K Srinivas said.
A few ERCs like the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) have already ensured procurement of some percentage of required power from renewable energy sources and we hope other ERCs would do the same, Mr Srinivas added.In fact, the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) conducted a public hearing on the subject on Tuesday responding to a petition filed by Bangalore based Greenpeace India Society. Other parties who participated in the public hearing included all the electricity distribution companies in the state, the Grid Corporation of Orissa (GRICO) as well as the state government. “The OERC’s response was extremely positive,” Mr Srinivas told Deccan Herald after the hearing.
This is for the first time such a public hearing took place in the country. Greenpeace India has also filed a petition with the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) for a similar public hearing.
Socio-economic impact
Mr Srinivas said there was enough scientific evidence to prove that thermal and big hydro power plants contribute hugely to climatic changes which ultimately have disastrous impact on the socio-economic conditions of the common people.For example, he said, a state like Orissa had been experiencing contrasting extreme weather conditions — from heat waves to cyclones and from droughts to floods — for more than a decade now. In the last four years natural calamities which have claimed more than 30,000 lives have not only become more frequent but have hit areas that were never considered vulnerable.Of the 2776 mw of power generated in Orissa, 880 mw comes from thermal plants and 1896 mw from big hydel projects.
“A gradual shift in investments from thermal plants and large hydel projects to renewable energy can go a long way in minimising the impact of climate change and the resulting negative socio-economic impacts on the poor,” the Greenpeace activist said.
