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Minister says Renewable Energy Policy Completed

September 13, 2010

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Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. James Robertson, says the country could have a Renewable Energy Policy in place within the next three months.
Mr. Robertson told a workshop on “Energy Efficiency and the Role of Renewable Energy in a Developing Economy”, at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), Kingston, Thursday (September 9), that the draft has been completed.
He said the document would be uploaded to the Ministry’s website by next week, to allow interested parties to view it and make recommendations.

Partner in the renewable energy firm, GreenRG, Oswald Wilson (far right), explains the inner workings of a solar generator developed by the company to persons attending a renewable energy workshop at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) in Kingston, on Thursday (September 9). The topic of the workshop was ‘Energy Efficiency and the Role of Renewable Energy in a Developing Economy’.

“If you accept them, in terms of when you read them, and we get back your final comments, it could be easily (done) within two to three months,” Mr. Roberts projected.
The Minister informed the workshop that the “Energy from Waste” policy was also completed.
The workshop provided information on new renewable energy technologies being developed by a United States-based company, GreenRG, which is seeking to bring these technologies to Jamaica. The areas covered include: solar lighting technology; solar-powered drip irrigation; light emitting diode (LED) technology; water conservation; and ultraviolet and heat sink technology.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Hon. Laurence Broderick, urged stakeholders to carefully consider the information presented, as renewable energy was one of the key ways to liberate businesses and households from “oppressive utility rates.”

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon James Robertson (left), warmly greets former Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin (Centre), while State Minister in the Ministry, Hon Laurence Broderick, shares in the moment, at a renewable energy workshop at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) in Kingston, on Thursday, September 9. The topic of the workshop was ‘Energy Efficiency and the Role of Renewable Energy in a Developing Economy’.

Mr. Broderick also suggested that it was time Jamaica consider “meaningful” incentives for businesses wishing to invest in renewable energy.
Also speaking at the function, former Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, related the New Orleans experience following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He explained how solar energy could have minimised the challenges faced, after the city was cut off from the power grid.
Mr. Nagin, who is also a promoter of green energy management, stated that Jamaica’s energy costs were unsustainable and that the country should embrace the new technologies.
“Jamaica’s power cost is 325 per cent higher than New Orleans’ cost. You are not going to be able to sustain industry, if you are not able to address this very quickly,” he warned.
Jamaica is aiming to have at least 20 per cent of its energy forms replaced by renewable energy forms by 2030.

Last Updated: August 14, 2013

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