BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Renewable energy, which was a major talking point with potential investors during last week’s visit by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, takes the spotlight again this week with a visit from the Bill Clinton Climate Initiative.
Prime Minister Douglas meets Tuesday with the delegation headed by Counselor to the Clinton Climate Initiative, Mr. Jan Hartke. The delegation will also meet with Federal Minister of Energy, the Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin and Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry
The Clinton Climate Change programme is aimed at partnering with national governments in offering options, expertise, and aspects of a sound business plan for their consideration.
Governments are not charged for the services in the development of clean, affordable, reliable power for the island countries.
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis cognizant of the high cost of electricity as a result of the world market prices have been looking at ways to move to green energy.
A proposal was submitted by Prime Minister Douglas in support of the National Energy Policy of the government to facilitate St. Kitts and Nevis becoming a country where sustainable, clean, reliable and more affordable energy sources are developed and used.
The Cabinet has approved the waiving of taxes on a range of alternative energy generating equipment and energy efficiency equipment.
The waiver is on the Import Duty and Customer Service Charge on solar PV panels and ancillary equipment for generating electricity; hydrogen fuel cells and ancillary equipment; wind turbines and ancillary equipment; energy-saving bulbs including LED bulbs; solar water heaters and tanks; solar AC units and other approved related equipment.
With the assistance of the Republic of China (Taiwan), solar panels have been installed at Government Headquarters, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the National Assembly and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Youth and Sports.
A few weeks ago discussions on plans to set up a solar panel manufacturing plant in St. Kitts were discussed here.
Minister of Housing and Energy, the Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin also said the next set of low-income homes constructed island wide by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) will be electrified by solar energy.
Taiwan is also assisting with the installation of LED street lighting system on the Kim Collins Highway and on the road to Frigate Bay from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) to Sugars.
The Nevis Island Administration of Premier the Hon. Joseph Parry is also pursuing geothermal energy.
