ROADTOWN Tortola, June 13th, 2012 - Scores of people converged at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park to learn about the economic benefits of conserving energy as part of BVI Electricity Corporation’s first annual Energy Conservation Day.
The activity which took place on June 8 began with an opening ceremony, followed by demonstrations, displays and the distribution of energy efficiency information.
During the opening ceremony the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool reaffirmed his position on energy conservation. “We want you to understand, that this is more than talk. We have made a very deliberate decision to ensure that over the next three years very significant progress is made in conserving energy in the Virgin Islands and we are embarking on a very aggressive alternative energy program as well,” Minister Vanterpool confirmed.
Noting the importance of team work and collaboration, Minister Vanterpool shared his desire to reduce the cost to produce energy territory wide. “From the Board down to the general management of BVIEC and others, we are all on the same are on the same page.
The BVIEC will be looking at how we can reduce demand so that we can avoid spending between 30 and 50 million dollars to increase capacity while re-directing that same money back into the community to purchase equipment like solar water heaters and LED lights so that collectively we can reduce the energy demand within our Territory.”
Acknowledging that energy conservation needs the buy-in from the community the Minister Vanterpool made this charge. “We need to adapt to change. By doing two things right away, by making up your mind as an individual who owns a home, by making up your mind to change your system of heating water from an electric system to a solar system, By adapting to change, to make up your mind to change the type of lights you use in your home. By doing that, I know that you will be able to recognize your energy savings as it has been proven that these measures have reduced electricity consumption significantly.”
Also present at the ceremony was BVIEC’s General Manager, Mr. Leroy Abraham, who re-iterated the effectiveness of energy conservation. “Energy conservation is the quickest, cheapest, cleanest, and most straight forward solution to rising energy costs as a result of global fluctuation in the price of fuel.”
The overall message delivered, preached and demonstrated was a call for the community and the private sector to join with Government to promote energy conservation territory-wide.
The BVI Electricity Corporation is committed to providing the best possible service to its customers, and to aid in the development of the Territory's electrical infrastructure by adequately supplying a reliable and continuous electrical supply to the entire British Virgin Islands population at an affordable cost.
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