$14.9 Million for Hotel Energy Project

The Government will be spending $14.9 million on the Caribbean Hotel Energy and Action Project in the 2014/15 fiscal year.

Details of the project are included in the Estimates of Expenditure, to be considered by the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament from April 8 to 10.

The project seeks to improve the competitiveness of the Caribbean hotel industry; move towards higher energy efficiency and micro-generation with renewable energy and contribute to compliance with Montréal Protocol; and to also provide institutional strengthening at the local level.

Achievements up to February 2014 included the signing of project documents; establishment of a Steering Committee; Recruitment of a Project Manager; project launch held with stakeholders; and Phase I energy audits also conducted.

For the upcoming fiscal year, the project will seek to develop energy efficiency Models for hotels; conduct energy audits; launch project with stakeholders, administrators and funding agencies; conduct audits for Ozone Depleting Substances; and analyze existing financial instruments.

The project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Jamaica. It is scheduled to be completed by March 2015.