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The Aurora Pacific Special Economic and Freeport Zone Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with Maryland-based clean energy company Ally Power Inc. for a potential US$200-million investment
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The proposed 128-megawatt power generation project inside the Aurora ecozone will use hydrogen technology
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The MOU establishes a general framework for collaboration and allows both parties to explore opportunities in clean energy, power generation, and related infrastructure projects
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APECO president and CEO Gil Taway IV said the proposed power facility, which may be located in a 20-hectare site within the Aurora ecozone, can power upcoming and potential investment projects
The Aurora Pacific Special Economic and Freeport Zone Authority (APECO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Maryland-based clean energy company Ally Power Inc. for a potential US$200-million investment for a power generation project.
The proposed 128-megawatt (MW) power generation project inside the Aurora ecozone will use hydrogen technology .
The MOU signed by APECO president and chief executive officer Gil Taway IV and Ally Power head of business development in Asia Leonard Travis on January 17, 2026 establishes a general framework for collaboration and allows both parties to explore opportunities in clean energy, power generation, and related infrastructure projects within the ecozone, subject to further studies and regulatory approvals.
It also provides a platform for technical evaluation, coordination, and planning, with specific project details to be covered by separate agreements in the future.
Any future power supply arrangements arising from the proposed project will be structured in compliance with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and relevant Energy Regulatory Commission rules.
Ally Power will lead the technical and investment studies for potential projects, while APECO will support coordination within the ecozone in line with its mandate to promote sustainable economic development in Aurora.
Taway, in a speech during the signing, called the partnership “both timely and strategic” as it “responds to a pressing need: long-term energy reliability for Aurora and the ecozone.”
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“The proposed project is being considered as part of broader efforts to address Aurora’s power challenges and improve the province’s long-term energy reliability, which is seen as critical in attracting new investments and supporting ecozone development,” Taway said.
In a press briefing after the signing ceremony, Taway said the proposed power facility, which may be located in a 20-hectare site within the Casiguran, Aurora ecozone, can power upcoming investment projects such as, among others, a cold storage and fish processing facility and drone manufacturing, as well as other potential investments.
Taway assured Ally Power of APECO’s support in getting all the clearances they need to start the project, and hopes in a short time, “in a month, we will come together again for the signing of a lease agreement and investment agreement” for the project.
He noted that Ally Power can avail of incentives not just under Republic Act (RA) No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, but also under APECO’s charter and RA 12066 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy.
“We at Ally Power are thrilled to play our part in the development of Aurora Province, and especially with the development of APECO. We hope to work with stakeholders here to not only build infrastructure, but also to build great jobs and contribute to academic programs for the future of our young people as well,” Travis said.
“In this way, our initial US$200 million investment will not only build infrastructure, but also build lives towards a bright future for the citizens of Aurora as well,” he added.
During the press briefing, Travis said the initial investment would be implemented in phases and that the project “could extend well very far beyond the initial $200 million.”
He added that Ally Power’s equipment is modular and primarily off the shelf, allowing it to scale up capacity easily and hit the full 128 MW when needed.
Ally Power also expressed interest in human capital development, including a potential partnership with the Aurora State College of Technology for the establishment of a Clean Energy Center of Excellence and to build capabilities of students in green energy technology. — Roumina Pablo
