The BU household is not comprised of the sharpess ‘blackled’ in the case therefore understanding government’s energy diversification strategy after six years in office has become somewhat of a mystery. If it is a key policy measure to restructure the economy we are not ‘feeling’ it.
State entities are the largest consumers of fossil energy in Barbados,. Barbados Water Authority and Grantley Adams Airport come to mind. Why has the government not embarked on an aggressive implementation of solar, wind or combination alternative energy systems at these locations?
At the residential level we have a role to play to conserve and transition to alternative sources but it is always the most sensible approach to grab the quick wins. The apolitical among us understand that energy diversification to mitigate volatility associated with oil price is a sensible approach. All issues in Barbados are converted to being political and amidst the noise of the RE debate any semblance of a nation awakening to the benefit of this issue has been suppressed.
The launch recently of an initiative by a local company to import electric cars provoked a chuckle in the BU household. There is a government endorsed program to conserve energy and to rollout alternative energy initiatives BUT we are importing electric cars to feed from a grid which is fossil powered. BU welcomes the electric and hybrid vehicles BUT how does it merge with the goal of energy diversification?. We need to incent the individual who wants to buy an energy saving vehicle to retrofit the garage to be powered by non fossil power supply.
What has become of Barbados oil exploration odyssey miles off the West coast? The ever taciturn minister responsible has seldom given updates about the project. What is it about this government and its aversion to communicating with the electorate and taxpayers? Is it a reasonable debate to have whether a renewable energy strategy can be complemented with drilling for the black stuff?
Have a look at the UK website Greener Home Improvements. BU does not have to critique the website to make a point. Bear in mind this is a government initiative supported in one of the most temperate of countries. There is talk and policy then there is execution.
How is the Barbados Light & Power supporting government policy? How is the regulator working to support national policy? How is the faltering economy affecting government’s RE rollout? What of the concerns expressed by the Barbados Renewable Energy Association? Should EMERA be persuaded to generate RE power for distribution given its existing infrastructure?
Why ask anyway.
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