Energy in Renewable Energy

Brynn O’Reilley, a second year student in the Energy Systems Engineering Technology at St. Lawrence College plugs in an electric vehicle at the launch of the college’s new charging station. (Elliot Ferguson The Whig-Standard)

Now that the outcry over government’s decision to make UWI students pay tuition cost has abated, there is the opportunity to debate the issue unhinged from political rhetoric. Let us keep hope alive!

At  a recent address to the CARILEC Renewable Energy Conference Minister of Energy Darcy Boyce stated that although he understands the industry is of national importance, government will not rush policy decisions to impact the stability of the grid. Many have come to appreciate that ‘rushing’ is not a quality which is associated with the Stuart led government.  At the same CARILEC conference Caricom Ambassador expressed the view that Barbados has reached a juncture where important decisions have to be made concerning energy production and there was a ‘certain urgency’ required.

Commonsense dictates that government and the regulator should not take decisions to destabilize the EMERA owned sole electric company in Barbados. BU must question whether the minister with responsibility for energy should be the one quoted. Minister Boyce must be perceived by his utterances to be the champion of government’s renewable energy program (RE). There must be no doubt in the minds of members of the public that he is part of a decision making process to rollout RE which is calibrated to the urgency of the times. All Barbadians must feel the weight of importance which the RE program has for Barbados. We must feel his energy!

Are BOTH Major Political Parties Capable of Lifting the Political Debate?

BLP and DLP – our political leaders

BU is disappointed that despite the Barbados economy being gripped in a protracted depressed global economy, the national political debate continues to be about privatization, and of late, the poorakey behaviour unleashed in parliament last week.

BU joins with ordinary Barbadians to suggest worthy topics deserving of national debate:

• How do we increase productivity in all sectors?
• Making our governance framework more robust
• How to more aggressively rollout the renewable solution (including waste to energy)
• Amending the education system to align with national priorities
• Source funding to build out a framework to drive the cultural and sports industries (national lotteries)
• How do we incent consumers to buy hybrids – install renewable energy sources etc, etc, etc.

To debate any of the topics mentioned lends currency to the label that Barbadians are an educated people. And that we are attuned and aligned to what the key strategic priorities are at this juncture in our history. Forget the flowery nation building articles which have started to populate the local press. It is time to get real!

Generating and Protecting Our Forex

Barbados forex fell by 63 million dollars

It is unfortunate that when some of us try to engage in a constructive debate about the economy, motivated only by love of country, others trivialize the attempt because they are blinded by party colours.

BU continues to be disappointed that despite the protracted volatility of the global economy, it seems to be having a null effect on the mindset of Barbadians and the political directorate. Instead of reconciling to a position to what we can do for our country, we continue to demand, demand, demand, more, more, more. Years and years of becoming bloated as a result of borrowing has caught up with us.

The time has come to select a new path. The aged model which has served us well must be dispensed with if we are to sustain our current way of life. Yes this government is to be commended for the increased dialogue about Renewable Energy (RE), and those policy initiatives which seek to wean Barbadians from its almost total dependence on fossil fuel. BU suggests that we have not done enough.  Why can’t motor dealers be incentivised to sell Hybrid vehicles NOW? Why can’t taxpayers get a 2-3 year shelter up to 80% on tax filings when they retrofit their homes with RE devices NOW? We need to take significant decisions to kickstart desired behaviours. We give RE incentives yet facilitate the increase of vehicles which run on fossil fuel.

Politicians Love To Talk About Renewable Energy

Professor Oliver Headley

G20 countries concluded its meeting on the weekend. The usual bovine excrement was recorded in the joint communiqué which was duly released yesterday. One bit of information coming out of the deliberations which held the interest of BU referred to the need to “phase out over the medium term of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption, taking into account vulnerable groups and their development needs.” Didn’t know if to laugh or cry at the statement. The statement reminded BU to view a video clip which poked some fun at the last eight US presidents including Obama, who promised to shift US dependence on oil. Did someone asked for a definition of lip service?

Living on an island blessed to be located in the tropics, it continues to bamboozle the mind why politicians and policymakers would resist serious attempts to build a renewable energy (RE) program in Barbados. Whether our RE program is developed using solar, wind or other means  can be determined by collaborating with available expertise on the ground or abroad if required.

The Urgency Of Pursuing A Renewable Energy Agenda For Barbados

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Darcy Boyce

Maybe BU missed it and if we did we are willing to apologize to the government. It is approaching two years since the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) took-up the reigns of government and we are still to sense the urgency of its renewable policy. So far all we have read about is the wind farm program being piloted by the Barbados Light & Power Company which if we understand correctly is locked down in the bureaucracy of Town Planning and by extension government.

Is there more Barbadians should know about our RE policy and if so why not have a national discourse to ensure top of mind awareness? Is there a role for the Fourth Estate of Barbados? Hell yes!!!

Barbadians remember the urgency to discover renewable energy sources and the public fear which was fuelled when the price of a barrel of oil jumped to USD147 just over a year ago. In the post-global financial meltdown there has been a significant reduction in the oil price which at last closing indicated USD78.30. Although BU concedes most governments around the globe have had to allocate unplanned resources to survival and not growth initiatives, it does not explain why our government supported by traditional media would not articulate, distil and or communicate to Barbadians some urgency about our renewable energy program.

The logic used over one year ago to shift Barbados’ dependence from fossil fuel is the same today is it not?

In a call-in program yesterday (November 8, 2009) on VOB there was consensus it seems that our media houses are hamstrung by the lack of resources to follow-up on stories. This admission alone paints a worrying picture for the state of health of the Fourth Estate in Barbados. It is significant that in the month of November when Barbados will celebrate 43 years of Independence our thoughts as a nation should be about energy dependence. Energy cost is the key input which drive prices in Barbados and a significant slice of the import bill which requires foreign exchange support. How can Barbados claim to be a progressive country in this part of the world when we continue to build our economic success on legacy models which are quickly becoming redundant and unstable given the reality of the non-renewability of fossil fuels.

Barbados Light & Power Shame

Submitted by Zee Babb

Marketing Manager Stephen Worme (l) General Manager Peter Williams (r)

Let us say that BL&P technically and legally have a case for a review of rates. Even if only on the basis of not having done so for 25 years.

But on what basis does a company that has been making profits every year – not even based on competitive productivity, but on legislated guarantee, demand their right to earn an additional 4.4 % return on investment in a market where all others are facing losses, cutbacks, layoffs and failures?

BL&P is guaranteed a profit on whatever expenses they can convince the FTC they need to incur to produce electricity.

What ever salaries

What ever consultants

What ever equipment

What ever ‘expenses’

The cost of fuel means nothing to them – it is passed directly on to customers.

They presently add these costs all up and collect a cool 6% profit on top. (so the bigger the *cost of operation* the bigger their profits) They now want 10.4% instead of only 6%..

No wonder they do not care about renewables.