WHEREAS, Section 2(a) of Republic Act No. 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (the "RE Act") provides the State policy to accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy (RE) resources, such as, but not limited to, biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and ocean energy resources, including hybrid systems, to achieve energy self-reliance, through the adoption of sustainable energy development strategies to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels and thereby minimize the country's exposure to price fluctuations in the international markets, the effects of which spiral down to almost all sectors of the economy;

WHEREAS, Section 2(c) of the RE Act further declares the State policy to encourage the development and utilization of RE resources as tools to effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions and thereby balance the goals of economic growth and development with the protection of health and the environment;