Submitted to the Innovation Required by Barbadians to Make the Quantum Leap to Survive the Future by The Watcher
While prices are still somewhat out of the reach of the ordinary Barbadian, there are reportedly in excess of 7000 such installations in private homes now in existence here on the island. That figure scares the living daylights out of the Canadian swine who own BL&P. Its interesting to note that Canadian interest own over 35% of the Barbados economic engine including almost all of our local banks, and they do some of the most vile things here to people. Things they couldn’t dream of doing in Canada.
Back to the deployment of these PV systems. If the current growth keeps pace for the next 5 years, Barbados could see almost 65% of its energy generated by an alternative to fossil fuels. That will translate into a humongous savings in the importation of oil and reduce significantly our foreign exchange pay outs from the country. Problem there is, if PV starts to takes root in that manner, some political animal wont get a kick back and that to them is scary. That said, Barbados was involved in the harnessing of Solar Energy for years. Albeit to heat water. If this industry was seen as viable, had a real champion to drive it, and got some seed finding, we may have been producing solar cells and panels by now.
However late this may or may not be now, we need to start legislating that some percentage of the energy produced and consumed here, is “green”. That means that BL&P had to become compliant with that proclamation, or GO!
They dropped the ball on alternative energy when they allowed the Lamberts windmill to come tumbling down some years ago in July. What a waste! They, based on some rumour, were also responsible in part for the dismantling of the windmill owned and operated by BRC in Edgehill St.Thomas some two to three decades ago. For whatever its worth, Barbados could have invited and encouraged significant foreign investment to the country if the power company was producing energy cleanly and cheaply. Businesses will not only go where there is a cheap labour force, but where energy is cost effective. Actually, businesses will prefer to pay for a skilled labour force is they can receive cheap energy, because a skilled force means less employees, and opens the door for mechanization.
Ah well, we cant cry over spilt milk, but expecting UWI to pick up this ball and run with it to the finish line is tantamount to a millipede playing soccer. UWI is about the display of pomposity when the time comes for graduations. Its a chance for the Chancellor and others to show how great and wonderful they are. I wonder if they would hold a graduation without a single graduand, as this is where they are heading by not providing programs that are relevant to the development of this island.
I could write a book, wait, probably a series of books about our collective stupidity and misplaced prestige, but it would take a lifetime to write as those two characteristics which we embrace are like the Project Managers description of live documents. they just keep changing their form and expression.
Someone suggested that we start small, get small wins, and learn to build on them. I agree. Don’t look to spawn a solar or renewable energy industry anytime too soon. Lets start by getting simple things like regulatory and compliance applied to public utilities, providing value to Barbadians, and collaborating on grassroots projects that save us money.
Then, we can look to do something big. Until then, hear ye this…
Where there’s no vision, the people perish!
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