Negros Occidental Advances 11 Wind Projects Along Bird Migration Route

Eleven wind farm proposals in Negros Occidental, totaling 3,767 MW, are moving forward with commissioning slated between 2027 and 2030. The projects will be spread across seven cities—Cadiz, Silay, Victorias, Talisay, Bacolod, Bago, Kabankalan—and four municipalities—Manapla, E. B. Magalona, Pulupandan, Cauayan—along the Guimaras Strait, a key bird migration corridor. The Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas has listed the developers, including Envision Energy, Bago‑Negros Energy, and Haraya Wind, and has warned that failure to meet commitments could trigger penalties. The first operational site is the 200‑MW Cauayan project, expected to go live in October 2027, followed by a 300‑MW Bago farm in 2028 and a 1,215‑MW Haraya IV in 2030. While most projects are onshore, the DOE has not yet designated sites for offshore turbines. Environmental safeguards are in place: proponents must secure an environmental impact assessment and compliance certificate, and turbine blades will be painted bright colors to improve visibility for migrating birds. The developments align with Negros Occidental’s coal‑free status and the national goal of 35 % renewable energy by 2030, potentially boosting local power supply and supporting the province’s transition to cleaner energy sources.