All the people who work at the corporation must be credited for their patience and for their ability to keep cool when the public heats up during the occasional power outage – when a part or parts of the old generators fall off and replacement have to be special ordered.
A few weeks ago, I noticed solar powered streetlights being erected along the right side of the causeway from Koror to the Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge.I figured that the streetlights must have been purchased with foreign aid and that their specific placements must have been configured into the drafting of the proposal for funding from somewhere.Everyone, especially those who opt to walk or run at night on the causeway, should be delighted that the causeway – and so is the causeway that connects Koror to Meyuns – is lighted up and that the old generators at the Aimeliik and Malakal power plants do not have consume additional fuel to crank up power for the streetlights.
I am, on the other hand, a little perplexed.I get lightheaded when I think of the wonderful solar powered streetlights.I really do not see the need for erecting the solar powered streetlights on the causeways.It just does not make any sense to brighten up these particular areas at night – especially when the secondary roads in residential areas in Koror and main streets in the Babeldaob states are pitch black even when PPUC maintains it power distribution at optimum level.
As recently as last week, the whole power grid in Koror had to be shut down due to severed power lines in Meyuns.Koror residents must have had to scrounge for light sources during the power outage.They have had to light kerosene lanterns, gas lamps, flashlights, and even car headlights in order to see what was ahead of them.While they must have struggled with their light sources, both of the causeways shone – wasted environmentally friendly energy.
I have banked on the belief that any and all of our resources – be it renewable or otherwise –must, when used, be of benefit to a majority of the people in this country.Moreover, because we have been encaged in an “economic crisis,”we must be very resourceful with any aid we receive from donor nations.
It would have made more practical sense to erect the solar powered streetlights along Lebuu Street in Dngeronger and other secondary roads in Koror.If this was done, PPUC could have shut off some – if not all – of the existing street lamps and Koror would have conserved so much electrical energy.Moreover, when the old generators completely fall apart, Koror would at least have lighted streets.
I have to assume that someone must have looked for areas in Koror where the solar panels would be absorbing as much sunlight as possible; hence, the causeways.If this is the case, maybe the sun rarely shines on Koror.But then again, maybe the person has not walked the streets of Koror.The sun does shine on Koror and many have been sun burned – we are peeling dead skin in the dark.
