![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/solar-water-heater.jpg\" "\\"solar-water-heater\\"")
Nassau, The Bahamas \u2013 Installing solar water heaters to replace the traditional home appliance is the second initiative of the National Energy Policy to reduce the costs of high-electricity consumption and wasteful-usage of municipal water resources.<\/p>\n
According to Minister of State for the Environment Phenton Neymour,\u00a0 BEC could not afford the $570 million expansion plan quoted by the IDB, so the government began promoting reduction and conservation measures to solve the energy overload on BEC.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we came to office, we had to look at ways to reduce that expansion plan and at the same time provide for the growing market that we have right now in The Bahamas.\u00a0 That review was completed.\u00a0 It\u2019s been analysed by BEC.\u00a0 It\u2019s also been used by the Government in establishing some of its new initiatives over the last two years,\u201d said Minister Neymour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second aspect of it was to look at the energy sector and to look at ways in which we can add to the services being provided by BEC.\u00a0 All of you know as Bahamians that we have a lot of natural resources.\u00a0 We have a lot of sun, we have the ocean right at our feet, and also there\u2019s a considerable amount of wind, so we decided to look at the possibility of using Renewable Energy throughout The Bahamas.\u00a0 This study basically looked at each island and the potential for each island.\u201d<\/p>\n
In May 2011, the government\u2019s began promoting its first initiative of the National Energy Policy to publicly distribute hundreds of thousands of Compact Florescent Lamps (CFLs) throughout The Bahamas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very clear to me that we needed to establish a clear direction for this country moving forward in regards to energy and where we were going in regards to providing it for Bahamians, preparing for the future, and utilising all options that were available to us,\u201d said Mr. Neymour.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we began by formulating a National Energy Policy Committee.\u00a0 It was the second committee formed.\u00a0 The first one was not successful because it was primarily composed of public servants.\u00a0 But I recognise it was important to improve the private sector, in establishing policies, such as energy, because they play a vital role in providing the service and they also have valuable input into it.\u201d<\/p>\n
On June 14, local contractors and government workers from the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, Ministry of Housing, Department of Environmental Health (DEHS), and Ministry of Works participated in the \u201cImplementing Sustainable Energy Projects\u201d programme, a pilot project sponsored by the Inter-Developmental Bank.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the process, we sought the advice of many professionals in the industry, locally and abroad, and we were able to receive the services of the IDB, who also had their contacts and provided assistance in establishing a National Energy Policy Report,\u201d said Mr. Neymour.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring that process, we received funding from the IDB and from the GEF [Global Environment Fund].\u00a0 The funding was primarily to address the energy sector moving forward and also to address the challenges we were facing in BEC.\u00a0 The areas of concern was to look at BEC\u2019s operations internally, field operations, its processes, and its financial standing.\u00a0 We also sought the advice and got input about the expansion plan for BEC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trainees attended a Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Systems installation-training seminar in the BEC Big Pond Command Centre, with an experienced company, called Alternative Power Sources, that has installed solar panels in Jamaica.<\/p>\n
The solar energy training programme is an extension of the Bahamas Government\u2019s energy efficiency initiative called \u201c30\/30 by 2030\u201d.\u00a0 It is geared to steer the nation to follow the guidelines of the National Energy Policy to promote the integration of alternative power sources in order to reduce the rising cost of traditional fossil fuel energy.<\/p>\n
By Gena Gibbs
\nBAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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