Bill Clinton Climate Change Initiative gives thumbs up to political will of Labour Government to replace diesel power with green energy

BASSETERRE, ST.KITTS, JULY 16TH 2012 (CUOPM) – Officials of the Bill Clinton Climate Change Initiative were in high praise for St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Minister of Energy, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas for the political will to replace diesel power with clean renewable energy.

Officials of the Clinton Climate Initiative led by Mr. Jan Hartke and Ambassador Paolo Zampolli update Prime Minister Douglas since their meeting on the latest initiative.

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas with Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin and Chief Secretary Mr. Joseph Edmeade (left) and (right) Mr. Jan Hartke and Ambassador Paolo Zampolli.

Prime Minister Douglas outlined several of the initiatives taken by his government in the area of wind and solar energy and also the full support of the federal authorities to the geothermal initiative by the Joseph Parry-led Nevis Island Administration in Nevis.

“We welcome the help the Clinton Initiative. We want to move forward. We have the potential to become the first country in this are to be powered by renewable energy,” Prime Minister Douglas told the Clinton officials.

Prime Minister Douglas and Minister Martin were supported by Chief Secretary, Mr. Joseph Edmeade and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Lenny Lake.

The Clinton Climate Change programme is aimed at partnering with national governments in offering options, expertise, and aspects of a sound business plan for their consideration.

Governments are not charged for the services in the development of clean, affordable, reliable power for the island countries.

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis cognizant of the high cost of electricity as a result of the world market prices have been looking at ways to move to green energy.

A proposal was submitted by Prime Minister Douglas in support of the National Energy Policy of the government to facilitate St. Kitts and Nevis becoming a country where sustainable, clean, reliable and more affordable energy sources are developed and used.

(Left to right) – Mr. Jan Hartke, Ambassador Paolo Zampolli; Mr. Kevin Henderson; Ms. Anne Marie Miller, Mr. David Alacly, Mr. Lenrick Lake, Mr. Joseph Edmeade, Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin and Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas.

The Cabinet has approved the waiving of taxes on a range of alternative energy generating equipment and energy efficiency equipment.

The waiver is on the Import Duty and Customer Service Charge on solar PV panels and ancillary equipment for generating electricity; hydrogen fuel cells and ancillary equipment; wind turbines and ancillary equipment; energy-saving bulbs including LED bulbs; solar water heaters and tanks; solar AC units and other approved related equipment.

With the assistance of the Republic of China (Taiwan),solar panels have been installed at Government Headquarters, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the National Assembly and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Youth and Sports.

A few weeks ago discussions on plans to set up a solar panel manufacturing plant in St. Kitts were discussed here.

Minister of Housing and Energy, the Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin also said the next set of low-income homes constructed island wide by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) will be electrified by solar energy.

Taiwan is also assisting with the installation of LED street lighting system on the Kim Collins Highway and on the road to Frigate Bay from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) to Sugars.