Duty-free renewable energy products for the next 2 years
With effect from July 1, the BVI government will be taking a new approach to the importation of renewable energy items into the territory.
The government is also expected to introduce a new policy that ensures all government-owned facilities begin the process of changing all fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs and light fixtures to LED lighting and light fixtures.
This was detailed in a recent Cabinet post-meeting statement that also said a zero-Customs duty rate will be applied to any renewable energy product/item being imported into the territory for the next two years with effect from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023.
After the two-year duty-free period, the Customs duty applied to all renewable energy products/items being imported into the territory will be reduced to 10 percent across the board.
Cabinet also decided the Customs duty applied to all LED products/items being imported into the territory will be reduced to a flat rate of 10 percent across the board after the two-year duty-free period.
Furthermore, all energy-efficient products/items being imported into the territory are to be reduced to a flat rate of 15 percent Customs duty rate across the board. This will also be after the initial two-year duty-free period.
Government also revealed that it intends to consider the conversion from gas and diesel to hybrid and electric for all government-owned vehicles.
The Ministry of Finance is charged to explore opportunities with lending agencies to offer low interest, short-term fixed loans to citizens for the purchase of renewable energy systems for their homes.
Government last year announced its intention to introduce the development of an Energy Transition Plan in the BVI.
The plan is expected to help the BVI achieve its goal of having 100 percent renewable electricity by the year 2035 and 100 percent renewable energy for all uses by 2050.
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Only now? Most caribbean countries have been doing this almost 10 years now in deals wth the CDB. Here comes BVI now always behind on everything.
Check the year
https://www.iadb.org/en/news/news-releases/2012-06-28/barbados-public-sector-smart-energy-program%2C10049.html
you need a plan to recycle all those fluorescent bulbs since they contain mercury. while you’re at it, what about all the mercury thermostats being replaced. Are they ending up in the trash along with the bulbs?
Take to the dump and throw it in the incinerator.
What other plan are you really looking for?
burning that stuff would be super toxic for those who live nearby
It does make sense to recycle fluorescent bulbs, but there are no such facilities in the BVIs. Older units could also have ballast resistors that contain PCBs. However, not all thermostats have mercury switches.
This is good news.
Does this mean electric cars and trucks as well
They aren’t clear at all, atleast clarify this with ayo half a**ed reporting and statement releases.
So the government is going to install LED lights in it’s offices so the workers can remove them and use them at home. Great idea !
what about electric cars will they be duty free for two years…please clarify
We commend the Government for this one.
How about replacing all the Huge Floodlights which light the soccer field at the Belgrado Flax school in Virgin Gorda. Because they are Flood lights without shields they light up all the houses a mile away in Princess Quarters and the surrounding areas. And not enough light actually lights up the field. The cost of the new led lights for the ball field would be saved in electricity costs within one year!
So where are you going to get the electricity to charge the hybrid and electrical vehicles?
Answer: From the diesel generators in Pockwood Pond.
Nice!
Another exercise in futility.
Will this help Dana make more electric meters spin backwards?