The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Government is planning to develop a “green subdivision” in the Carmichael Road area, a Cabinet said yesterday, telling Tribune Business that its housing programme should kick-off within the next few weeks.

Kenred Dorsett, minister of the environment and housing, who was a speaker at the 23rd annual Bahamas Business Outlook conference, said the Government would launch its residential self-generation energy programme this year.

Speaking to his ministry’s renewable energy agenda, Mr Dorsett said: “Certainly, 2014, I think, is going to be a very good year for our renewable energy objectives.

“Not only are we going to be advancing the energy sector reform that we need legislatively, and advancing a policy, we will begin our residential energy self-generation programme this year.

“It remains that 10 per cent of generating capacity will be utilised for the programme, which will enable Bahamians to be able to install photovoltaic systems on their roofs that will be tied to the grid.”

Mr Dorsett added: “I think it bodes well for what we have been doing over the last few years by reducing the Customs duties on solar panels and inverters to make it more affordable for our people to bring them in, in preparation for what’s going to happen in 2014.

“We have committed to 30 per cent of electricity being generated by renewables by 2030. We believe this is going to put a significant dent in that overall objective as far as renewable energy is concerned.”

The Minister then confirmed: “One of the major housing subdivisions we intend to advance, we intend to make that a green subdivision - solar water heaters and photovoltaic systems being installed in those homes - as another effort to ensure that we build in an environmentally sustainable way. But, more importantly, ensure that our people will be able to benefit from this technology.”

Speaking further on the Government’s housing programe, Mr Dorsett said: “I got the first tranche of funding, and so plans have been submitted to the Ministry of Works. We are getting those approved so that we can get those constructed.”

He said each home would create at least 10-15 construction jobs, and the Government plans to build 130 homes under the programme.

“We have gotten funding from NIB but it is our intention to seek other avenues of funding to make sure that the programme is robust. I would say by the end of this month, and certainly next month, we will be able to begin construction. They are already moving into certain subdivisions. They are supposed to be clearing certain areas to begin that process”.

Mr Dorsett added that while the Government was looking to launch a “green subdivision” it would still seek to offer those homes at prices offered in the past.

“That’s why were’ looking at different construction systems so that we can still be able to offer the homes at the traditional prices we have offered in the past, but look for cost savings elsewhere in the construction process. That’s what we are fine tuning right now to ensure that we won’t have an astronomical bill associated with buying one of those homes,” said Mr Dorsett.