Renewable energy law effected, reduced fossil fuel imports anticipated
The territory’s considerable fossil fuel imports are well on the way to see a 20 percent decrease in the next two to three years; now with the successful implementation of the BVI Electricity Corporation (Renewable Energy) Regulation.
This law came into effect a week ago and provides residents and business owners with guidelines on how to install renewable energy systems at their homes and businesses, or how to start what the Electricity Corporation describes as utility-scale projects permitting persons to sell renewable energy such as solar power.
Minister responsible for energy Mark Vanterpool said this new law indicates major progress in government’s longstanding goal to ‘address the current and future energy needs of our territory’.
“Even as we continue to import oil and gasoline for our energy and transportation needs, efforts intensify to reduce our vulnerability to this risk. With the modernizing of legislation and a public education campaign, government will also continue initiatives to ensure that by 2021, fossil fuel imports will decrease by 20 percent, 50 percent of consumers will be using energy conservation measures and by 2023, [and] 30 of the territory’s energy will be supplied by renewable means,” Vanterpool said.
And according to General Manager for the Electricity Corporation, Leroy Abraham: “This is not only the beginning of securing a more sustainable and resilient energy future for the territory but will also demonstrate that the BVI is doing its part to combat climate change.”
The corporation said it is now encouraging residents to familiarize themselves with this new legislation as well as the BVIEC Act which was amended in 2015 to support renewable energy.
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its about time
Grid tie ok now then?
Who will be responsible for that renewable energy., Government or a private group? If private who are involved.? How will the connection be made?
This is a perfect example of the hypocrisy in the BVI. For years everyone has been acting as if they want to see alternative energy laws passed etc. This story has been up since morning and has 3 comments. But anything about a wall or other nonsense gets all the attention. Kudos to the govt and all involved in getting this done.
Same thing I am here saying. We are really hypocrites here. I welcome the legislation. Renewable Energy is the way to go.
A big education campaign would be helpful so that the public would know how to proceed with small or large projects using solar energy. Electricity in the BVI is very expensive. We need to know how soon solar units would pay for themselves.
This is fantastic news – there is so much to be done here to move BVI into a more sustainable country – but I will take these steps and a move in the right direction. Well done to those who worked to push this through.