The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A local provider yesterday queried whether Bahamian firms would be part of PowerSecure’s vision to integrate solar energy into its Family Islands generation solutions, while calling for clarity on the Government’s residential energy self-generation (RESG) initiative.

    Philip Holdom, head of Alternative Power Supply, told Tribune Business that while very little was currently known about PowerSecure’s overall strategy, local renewable energy providers should be given an opportunity to participate in such an initiative. 

Speaking at the signing of a five-year management services agreement with the Government earlier this week, Ronnie Brannen, PowerSecure’s president of utility and infrastructure, said that while the Family Islands present a unique challenge for BEC’s new operating subsidiary, Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), its existing expertise in renewables and available Crown Land created the potential for renewable energy installation.

“We don’t know very much right now. We don’t know what their proposal is or what part renewable energy firms are involved in,” Mr Holdom told Tribune Business.

“Usually, a Request for Proposal will go out, but if they intend to do a Mega Watt power plant in-house,  then they should let the public know that’s what they intend to do. If they are going to do a MW plant, obviously Bahamians should be given an opportunity.”    

Mr Holdom added that Bahamian renewable energy firms were looking forward to the Government providing clarity on its RESG programme. 

BEC announced late last year that due to proposed legislative and regulatory changes coming out of the energy sector reform process.it was suspending the RESG programme.

Customers with installed grid tied systems were advised to disconnect them until the process restarts and they complete the required approvals and authorisation process. 

At the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce & Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) energy forum last December, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis said a ‘correction’ to BEC’s self-generation programme suspension was forthcoming.

    Mr Holdom told Tribune Business: “BEC has effectively shut the whole system down after they urgently told everyone to register their system, so there is no consistency coming out of BEC.

“We have a law now but we can’t complete a form to take advantage of the law. What is a renewable energy business to do: Just wait around for a few years? We finally opened the door and now there is another door that you can’t go through.”