Goa Inaugurates New Solar Power Project at Sanquelim Municipality
Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant commissioned a new solar power project at the Sanquelim Municipal Council on Friday in a big move towards attainment of energy sustainability. The project will be a significant milestone in the current endeavors by the state to develop the use of renewable energy in the local government infrastructure and to develop a cleaner and greener Goa.
In his inauguration speech, Chief Minister Sawant has highlighted the need to integrate renewable energy in daily governance. According to him, these initiatives are a strong determination by the government to minimize carbon emission, lower the cost of energy and self-sufficiency of public institutions. The solar power project at Sanquelim would consider the electricity requirements of the municipality using clean and sustainable sources, and this would be the model to other local bodies within the state.
The installation will assist in operating major activities in the municipality including street light, administrative facilities and utilities without relying on traditional electricity systems. Through the solar energy, the municipality should be able to considerably reduce its carbon footprint and the energy bills, and remain saving the rest of the funds into other civic development projects.
The officials of the Department of New and Renewable Energy (DNRE) indicate that the project is a part of a greater state-level effort to advance the decentralized solar energy solutions. Goa has been continuously building its renewable energy capacity via rooftop projects, government building projects as well as through public- private joint ventures. The Sanquelim project is not the only pilot project that is to be implemented on a municipal level with other solar projects to be rolled out in the next few months.
Another point mentioned by Dr. Sawant is that the government seeks to convert Goa into a model solar state through encouraging community-based and institutional renewable energy project. He challenged the citizens and local authorities to be proactive in the transition process by embracing rooftop solar and energy-efficient solutions.
The inauguration is a manifestation of the greater environmental vision of Goa in the Goa Solar Energy Policy which pays attention to promote sustainable development without jeopardizing the economic growth. It also encourages the national goal of India to have 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
As the Sanquelim solar project has been successfully implemented, the government hopes that similar models should be implemented in other municipalities and panchayats and therefore renewable energy will become one of the pillars of Goan development.
