‘Sustainable Energy for Economic Security’- focus for Energy Week

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THIS week saw the launch of the first ever Energy Week which is being celebrated simultaneously with Caricom member states throughout the region and is being held under the theme ‘Sustainable Energy for Economic Security’.

The focus for the energy week will be on three areas according to Dr. Halla Sahely, assistant Water Engineer within the Water Services Department, when she spoke at the media launch for the Week of Activities at the Ocean Terrace Inn on Monday 7, 2011.

The week of activities which began on Nov. 6 with a Church Service at the Reformation Fellowship Ministries, will include a number of activities which will involve all the High Schools in the Federation and an Energy Expo at the end of the month.

“We have planned a series of activities aimed at informing nationals and non-nationals about renewable energies, efficient methods and how we could be sustained in the future,” said Lenrick Lake, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Public Works, Housing, Energy and Public Utilities.

On Nov. 8, officials of the ministry went to the schools in the Federation to set up an informational booth in their  Libraries or Resource Centres so that the students could learn more about all things related to energy.

Lake also said that Nov. 10 and 11, would be the days for tours to Renewable Energy Facilities in Nevis when students from St. Kitts and Nevis will be given the opportunity to visit renewable energy sites.

“Schools will select a student to travel to the sites in Nevis as Nevis has some interesting renewable energy programmes going on… Geothermal sites, Wind Farm and Nevlec. Most students have never been to a power plant, so they need to know where energy comes from. Solar Energy is another form of energy in use and Nevis has some houses that are fully solar,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary said that the Energy Expo at the end of the month will focus on Renewable energy, Energy Efficiency and Energy Sustainability and will take the form of a Street Fair.

He said that energy producers and companies involved in Solar Energy and Wind Energy are expected to be a part of the expo and nationals will be given a firsthand look at renewable energies.

“We hope to spread the word that energy efficiency, energy sustainability and our means to securing renewable energies is not only critical but necessary; you can’t sustain if you don’t diversify our energy portfolio,” he said.

Carlisle Powell, Minister of Communications, Works, Public Utilities, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Environment within the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) gave remarks at the launch where he said the goal of the NIA is to make Nevis 100% green in terms of the generation and supply of electricity for their people.

He said that since the establishment of the Wind Farm, Nevis people are better off in terms of their savings.

“Nevlec realized savings of over two million dollars since commissioning of the Wind Farm. Cost in Nevis and by extension the Federation has been reduced and will continue. Very soon St. Kitts will benefit from wind energy  coming into the grid,” Minister Powell said.

Earl Asim Martin, Minister of Public Works, Housing, Energy and Public Utilities said that Nevis has led the way by introducing wind energy into the electricity grid, and St. Kitts will likewise see this bid realized when North Star 5.4 mega watt wind farm is introduced by October 2012.

He said that Government Headquarters is being fitted with Solar energy and will be the first government building in the region to enjoy green energy.

He said that the week of activities will also focus on energy consumption and what can be done to have a positive impact on the lives of citizens.

“Focus on what efficient methods we can employ within our homes, the workplace, the communities, and thus help to reduce our consumption of fossil fuel,” Martin said.

Energy Week of Activities: