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Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley has described calls from Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull for immediate assistance to help residents embrace alternative energy as “short-sighted thinking”.
Dr. Wheatley fired back in the House of Assembly during debate on a Motion allowing the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) to increase rates for large commercial consumers.
Turnbull had argued that residents need direct assistance now to transition to alternative and sustainable energy. However, the Premier said long-term savings will never materialise unless investments are made today.
“If we never make the investment today, then it will not provide savings tomorrow,” Dr. Wheatley declared. “That short-sighted type of thinking is why we haven’t made more progress in solar today.”
He said alternative energy is the way out of the Territory’s electricity challenges and urged residents to embrace the Solar Technology Energy Programme (S.T.E.P.).
“We are exploring ways in which we can make the STEP programme even more accessible,” he stated.
The Premier pointed to duty-free concessions on renewable energy products, solar training at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the Anegada renewable energy project as evidence of the Government’s work.
He said Anegada currently runs on solar or battery power for approximately 19 hours daily and suggested that another battery could potentially move the island to round-the-clock renewable energy.
Dr. Wheatley also highlighted a proposed solar project at Cox Heath and said renewable energy should be explored at Paraquita Bay to help supply electricity to the water plant.
Dr. Wheatley fired back in the House of Assembly during debate on a Motion allowing the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) to increase rates for large commercial consumers.
Turnbull had argued that residents need direct assistance now to transition to alternative and sustainable energy. However, the Premier said long-term savings will never materialise unless investments are made today.
“If we never make the investment today, then it will not provide savings tomorrow,” Dr. Wheatley declared. “That short-sighted type of thinking is why we haven’t made more progress in solar today.”
He said alternative energy is the way out of the Territory’s electricity challenges and urged residents to embrace the Solar Technology Energy Programme (S.T.E.P.).
“We are exploring ways in which we can make the STEP programme even more accessible,” he stated.
The Premier pointed to duty-free concessions on renewable energy products, solar training at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the Anegada renewable energy project as evidence of the Government’s work.
He said Anegada currently runs on solar or battery power for approximately 19 hours daily and suggested that another battery could potentially move the island to round-the-clock renewable energy.
Dr. Wheatley also highlighted a proposed solar project at Cox Heath and said renewable energy should be explored at Paraquita Bay to help supply electricity to the water plant.
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