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Published On:Tuesday, January 26, 2010

By MEGAN REYNOLDS

Tribune Staff Reporter

mreynolds@tribunemedia.net

ABACO residents concerned about the environmental impact of the Wilson City power plant had their questions answered by the experts at a public meeting organised by local activist group Abaco Cares.

American scientists specialising in the control of toxic substances such as the heavy oil fuel Bunker C destined to be burned at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation's 48 megawatt power plant from June this year explained what should be done to protect communities and the environment from emissions.

And director of technology and special projects at The Cape Eleuthera Institute Graham Siener explained how alternatives to fossil fuels can be used in the Bahamas as the institute's Island School has run on 100 per cent renewable energy sourced from solar panels and wind turbines for the last 10 years, and distributes energy to the national grid.

Overwhelming public interest in the power plant was shown at a government meeting about the Wilson City project attended by around 1,000 Abaconians in September.

But conflicting information fed to residents left many still searching for answers about the potential harm posed by Bunker C and what should be done to protect Abaco's fragile ecosystem.

Wilson City is in the centre of a vast area of wetlands and mangrove creeks linked by one of the most dense networks of blue holes in the country's 700 islands, second only to the blue hole systems in Andros.

Scientists studying the East Abaco blue holes have reported how the BEC road to the plant has filled in at least two, and perhaps as many as 12, in construction of the new power plant road.

And blue hole expert Brian Kakuk, founder and director of the Bahamas Caves Research Foundation who has done over 2,000 blue hole dives, explained how the blue holes are intrinsically linked and activity in one is very likely to impact others.

In East Abaco the creek systems and blue holes in The Bight of Old Robinson, Cherokee Sound and Snake Cay, three areas surrounding Wilson City, are all connected by this network and the Bahamas National Trust and Abaco environmental education organisation Friends of the Environment is seeking to protect all three as part of an East Abaco Creeks National Park.

A proposal has been compiled with public support gathered at a series of meetings over the last two years in which residents called for the areas to be protected in response to pressure from developers.

Friends executive director Kristin Williams explained how all three areas are of equal ecological value and scientific interest and are all critically important for the survival of commercial and recreational fishing.

Mrs Williams said: "Even though the power plant is going there, these areas are really important habitats and need to be protected.

"The Bight of Old Robinson has the highest density of blue holes second to Andros and could be the most important nursery for juvenile Nassau grouper and spiny lobster on the entire island of Abaco.

"The biggest threat is large-scale development, so by protecting it, by leaving the area as it is and allowing people to use it as they do, the juvenile habitat will be protected, and that's the purpose of the proposal."

Mrs Williams was one of seven speakers who gave presentations to around 150 Abaco residents attending the meeting on Thursday.

The concerned Abaconians were shocked to learn from US infrastructure engineering and environmental services firm NTH Consultants that proper regulation of Bunker C emissions would cost more than using more expensive diesel fuel.

And they were told many of the systems that should be put in place to protect human and environmental health are not being installed at Wilson City.

Katie Feeney from the Clean Air Council explained how particles from Bunker C are inhaled and harm the lungs in ways that diesel emissions do not.

NTH Consultants representatives also pointed out how the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the site made no mention of the threat to endangered migratory birds, and specifically the Kirtlands Warbler migrating from Michigan to the Bahamas every year.

Mrs Williams said: "The reason why they held the meeting was so residents could stay educated about what is happening from the experts, independently from what the government tells us, so we are all aware of what is happening and what the potential dangers are."

Responsible Development for Abaco (RDA) sought an injunction to stop development of the power plant but was denied by the Supreme Court, however the group represented by Fred Smith, QC, did receive permission to launch Judicial Review proceedings in a bid to prevent the plant's construction.

Minister for the Environment Earl Deveaux maintains that the modern power plant being built by MAN Diesel is not limited to use of Bunker C and will be able to burn cleaner fuel in the future.