Going green at last
Now that the territory finally appears to be getting serious about alternative energy, we hope leaders will follow their many promises with forward-thinking policy decisions designed to accelerate this trend over the long term.
Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool said last week that the government is working with the BVI Electricity Corporation to amend energy legislation by the end of the year. This is good news indeed: The outdated legislation currently on the books, which in many cases prohibits the use of alternative energy altogether, is causing the VI’s energy sector to fall far behind on the global playing field.
Other encouraging initiatives have come recently from the government, the private sector and non-profit organisations:
• A Climate Change Adaptation Policy was approved by Cabinet. (It has yet to be released to the public, but we trust it will be soon.)
• Last week, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College launched a pilot solar power system that is to serve as a source of backup power to its Centre for Applied Marine Studies.
• Government is working with the BVI Electricity Corporation to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent over the next three years, according to Mr. Vanterpool.
• Energy-efficient light bulbs are being installed in government offices, and plans are in the works to replace existing streetlights with energy-efficient alternatives.
• Non-profit organisations such as Green VI have rallied the community behind the alternative-energy cause, even working with a law firm to produce proposed new legislation.
These steps are all positive, but they will need to be bolstered by substantial community support and progressive policy decisions if they are to be meaningful.
The VI will need to work fast if it is to catch up with its neighbours in the Caribbean. The United States VI, for example, has pledged to reduce its fossil fuel consumption by 60 percent by the year 2025, and it has implemented various programmes to promote solar energy.
Other countries in the region have made substantial investments in wind farms; passed tax incentives designed to promote alternative energy; and exempted solar panels and other green-energy equipment from import duty, among other measures.
The VI should carefully consider all of these ideas. Unfortunately, in recent years, there has been much talk and not much action when it comes to alternative energy.
In a world where oil is increasingly scarce and global warming is a growing threat, the new government must keep its campaign promise to do better.