Northern samar: Northern Samar 2nd district Rep. Edwin Ongchuan on Wednesday welcomed the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) approval of the grid connection of the Lihangin Wind Energy Corporation's San Isidro Wind Power Project, describing it as a major step toward advancing clean and reliable energy in the province.

According to Philippines News Agency, during his term as governor in 2024, Ongchuan led the province's investment and renewable energy initiatives, which aimed to attract investors and create an environment conducive to sustainable growth. The campaign laid the groundwork for the entry of renewable energy projects that now position Northern Samar as an emerging hub for green investments in Eastern Visayas.

'The ERC approval of the San Isidro Wind Power Project affirms the continuing results of those early investment efforts. This will hopefully strengthen the overall stability of the Visayas grid. It supports the long-term goal of reducing dependence on imported fuels and promoting more affordable and sustainable electricity across the region,' Ongchuan said in a statement.

The 206-megawatt wind power project located in the municipality of San Isidro was authorized by the ERC to connect to the Visayas grid through the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) substations in Calbayog and San Isidro. Aboitiz Renewables Inc. and its partners, Vivant Energy Corp. and Singapore-based Vena Energy, expect the project to commence commercial operations by February 2026.

The wind project has secured all necessary permits from the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Once operational, it will add significant renewable energy capacity to the Visayas grid and help achieve national clean energy targets.

The San Isidro Wind Power Project features 33 wind turbine generators with a capacity to produce 206.25 megawatts of electricity, along with over 130 transmission towers. It will occupy about 176 hectares of land with wind turbines in the coastal villages of Salvacion, San Juan, Palanit, Mabuhay, Veriato, and Caglanipao. The project is expected to contribute to the government's goal of achieving a 35-percent renewables share in the energy mix by 2030.