The United States and the Philippines are working together to expand access to clean energy and find solutions to the climate crisis. On August 6, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) announced a grant to the Philippines’ Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. supporting development of offshore wind projects that could produce up to 3 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power more than 2 million homes in that country.
“The United States stands committed to working with the Philippines to achieve a clean energy future together,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. “The signing of the USTDA grant on offshore wind is an important step in that direction.”
The grant will support Aboitiz’s search for potential sites for one of the Philippines’ first offshore wind projects and provide technical and economic analysis for the project. USTDA has supported 33 other energy projects in the Philippines, including smart grids, renewable power generation, distributed energy and energy storage systems.
The secretary attended the grant signing in Manila during his August 2–12 trip to Cambodia, the Philippines, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. In Manila, Blinken met with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. as well as with innovators and entrepreneurs who are advancing clean energy and expanding access to solar and hydro power, among other projects.
Blinken said: “These efforts are more important than ever because every region in the world is experiencing the dangerous effects of the climate crisis.
“We have to tackle it together. And investing in clean energy is one very powerful way to do that.”
The grant for offshore wind energy is the latest in the U.S.-Philippines clean energy collaboration. The United States recently supported the Philippines first competitive bidding program with energy providers to produce another 2 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025.
In March, the Philippines joined the U.S. Department of State’s Clean Energy Demand Initiative, which connects countries with companies seeking access to more clean energy for their operations. So far 12 companies have signed letters of intent to partner with the Philippines, potentially unlocking more than $2 billion in clean energy infrastructure investments in the Philippines.
Blinken continued: “Together we’re reducing carbon emissions while creating jobs.
“We’re sparking innovation. We’re producing affordable, reliable energy for families and communities throughout the country.”
