Sustainable Energy & Development News January 2014

Sustainable Energy & Development News

VOL.1 JANUARY 2014

THE MONTHLY REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & DEVELOPMENT NEWS IN THE CARIBBEAN FROM THE REGION”S LEADING INFORMATION PLATFORMS

This publication is prepared by the Caribbean Energy Information System

What’s Happening Now Across The Region...

Climate Innovation Centre Launches Today The newly established Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre (CCIC), an initiative of the World Bank’s infoDev, will be officially inaugurated today [January 27] by Jamaica’s Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell, and Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie.

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Teaching High School Students to Think Green Earthcare and Save the Bays have launched an Environmental Education Programme for junior high school students on Grand Bahama. The programme started on Saturday, January 25, with a session on mangrove education at the Mary Star of the Sea Auditorium at noon.

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High-Energy Industries Not Now a Focus of Logistics Hub Industries that use high amounts of electricity are not now in the crosshairs of the authorities responsible for pulling together Jamaica’s logistics hub. However, officials insist that they are not yielding on the energy issue.

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Carbon Dioxide Utilization Congress 2014 February 19 - 20, 2014 San Diego, USA MIA Green 2014 February 27 - 28, 2014 Miami Beach Convention Centre, Florida USA Stanford Geothermal Workshop February 24 - 26, 2014 Stanford University, California USA Regsa International Conference 2014: Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency And Sustainable Development May 6 - 8, 2014 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil 2014 Energy Conference June 2014 Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Trinidad

31-1-2014 || 2014 IPS Clean Energy Policy Despite having an abundance of wind and sunshine, Caribbean countries have found that going green is requiring significant shifts in policy, and most importantly, significant financing. But despite these challenges, they are not daunted. Barbados, for instance, which spends an estimated 400 million dollars annually on fossil fuel imports, has announced plans for a wind, gas and solar energy programme that requires almost one billion dollars in investments. Read more 30-1-2014 || St Lucia Eyes Geothermal Energy Following the lead of some of its Eastern Caribbean neighbours, St Lucia’s government says it is exploring the development of geothermal energy on the island. As islands like Dominica, Nevis and Montserrat explore geothermal (albeit at varying stages of development), St Lucia says it is moving “very aggressively moving towards developing this geothermal resource,” according to Minister for Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Dr James Fletcher. Read more 30-1-2014 || Tapping A Volcano, One Caribbean Island Prepares to Make Power for Many Sitting on top of a volcano may be just what Nevis, a small sombreroshaped Caribbean Island, needs to become one of the greenest nations on Earth. Frequented by many celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Dustin Hoffman, Michael Douglas and Beyoncé, this former British colony is about to tap into the geothermal power that lies beneath its pristine surface.

Read more 29-1-2014 || Kimroy Bailey Foundation ‘Locally-Made’ Wind Turbine The Kimroy Bailey Foundation 100% Renewable Community Center was recently featured on TVJ’s All Angles special edition aired on Christmas Day 2014. The foundation showcased a homemade wind turbine using low cost materials. The Foundation has generated a new momentum with the vision of incorporating renewable energy to propel the local farming industry in and around Trelawny. The 100% Renewable Community Center which is located in the Litchfield district is ideally position among the highest concentration of ‘yellow yam’ farms in the English speaking Caribbean 1. Read more

REPORTS Jamaica Sustainable Energy Roadmap: Pathways To An Affordable, Reliable, Low-Emission Electricity System Climatescope 2014 : New Frontiers for Low-Carbon Energy Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Report: Renewable Energy could power all of Latin America and Caribbean An Assessment of the Economic and Social Impacts of Climate Change on the Energy Sector in the Caribbean

DOCUMENTS Status of Net Billing offered in Jamaica (Version 1) Proposed Incentives for the Energy Sector - JAMAICA JAMAICA - Energy Efficient Items Exempted from GCT & Customs Duty

29-1-2014 || Puerto Rico Getting Six Large-Scale Solar PV Projects Puerto Rico will soon be home to a significantly larger solar photovoltaic infrastructure energy capacity thanks to a number of newly signed agreements between the scenic Caribbean territory and a number of notable renewable energy companies. To be precise, six companies have been given the go-ahead to begin construction on their particular PV plants — Horizon in Salinas, YFN Yabucoa in Yabucoa Solar, Oriana in Aguadilla, San Germán Solaner, Grupotec in Hatillo, and Athens Solar in Manatee. Read more 27-1-2014 || Caribbean Islands Fight High Electricity Costs with Geothermal Energy In recent months, a number of companies have announced plans to develop geothermal energy projects at locations across the Caribbean, including Nevis Island, Dominica and St. Vincent. Why is the Caribbean such a promising region for the development of geothermal energy facilities? And what are the prospects for the expansion of the geothermal sector across the region? Read more 27-1-2014 || UK Grants $4.8 M to Wigton Windfarm Government’s renewable energy programme has received a boost from the United Kingdom, which has provided a grant of $4.8 million to the Wigton Windfarm at Rose Hill, in Manchester. The grant will fund the installation of a solar panel roof for a training lab at the facility, and the purchase of a wind turbine. Both will be used for teaching and demonstration under Wigton’s renewable energy training programme.

Read more 27-1-2014 || Haiti – Education : UEH Launches a Project of Renewable Energy Education Network Wednesday, the Executive Council of the State University of Haiti (UEH) officially launched in Port-au-Prince, the Renewable Energy Education Network (RENET), in the presence of numerous personalities including among others : Jean Jumeau, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister for Energy Security, Senator Maxime Roumer and the Spanish Ambassador in Haiti, Manuel Hernandez Ruigomez. Read more 27-1 -2014 || Cuba Prioritizes Use of Renewable Energy Sources Authorities of the western Cuban province of Matanzas revealed a strategy until 2016 intent on boosting the use of renewable energy sources, according to a study published here.In this program, adds the report, one of the measures highlighted is the use of biogas to substitute and generate electricity using forest biomass. Read more 23-1-2014 || New Bus Stations for the City Barbadian commuters will soon benefit from two new bus terminals in the City area. This is according to Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley, who was delivering the feature address at the Barbados Workers’ Union Fun Day at its Labour College grounds yesterday [January 22, 2014].

Read more 21-1-2014 || Committed to Green Energy Government has identified a number of projects which are to be undertaken in the near future, aimed at helping to move its green energy plans forward. According to Minister of Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, Cabinet has also approved the creation of a number of projects which will form part of the Mangrove Pond Green Energy Programme. Read more

Content Administrator, CIPORE Caribbean Energy Information System (CEIS), Scientific Research Council (SRC), Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I. 876-927-1779(w) | 876-9771840(f) | ceis@src-jamaica.org www.ceis-caribenergy.org www.src-jamaica.org

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17-1-2014 || Our Hope for a Green Caribbean A new hope in renewable energy sources is being pioneered in the Cayman Islands by way of the electric-vehicle (EV) industry, with a view to long term economic and ecological sustainability. John Felder, President and CEO of Cayman Automotive, announced that Cayman Automotive has reached an agreement with Budget-Rent-A-Car in Grand Cayman that their company will be the first to offer 100 percent All-electric vehicles EV’s for rent in the Caribbean. Read more 15-1-2014 || Cuba Prioritizes Change of Energetic Matrix Cuban government prioritizes the change of the energy matrix to promote the efficient use of energy and the development of renewable sources.

Director of National Strategy and Policy of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem) in Cuba, Leandro Matos, stated that among the objectives of this policy is to reduce the dependence on import fuel and reduce costs. Read more 14-1-2014 || NIA Defends Decision to Choose NREI for Geothermal The Nevis Island Administration is defending its decision to choose the Nevis Renewable Energy International (NREI) as the company to pursue geothermal energy. West Indies Power LTD (WIPN) Kerry McDonald is questioning the track record of the principals of NREI. Read more 14-1-2014 || Palmyra Leaves Self-Generation To Connect To JPS Grid Energy provider Jamaica Public Service (JPS) on December 23 connected the Palmyra Resort and Spa in St James, to the national grid for the first time, after the development abandoned efforts at generating its own electricity supply. Read more 14-1-2014 || Cuba Increases Biogas Use in Agriculture Cuban agriculture plans to be self-sufficient in the consumption of electricity through the extensive use of renewable sources of energy, such as biogas. Small and medium biogas plants will be set up at pigraising and other livestock facilities to provide a source of kitchen fuel and electricity. Read more 14-1-2014 ||Caribbean Sun Powers Flagship Haiti Hospital, and Then Some You may remember our report last winter on the development of a Haiti hospital predicted to become the world’s largest solar hospital. The Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais opened last March. So far, it’s living up to — even exceeding — all the predictions. Read more 14-1-2014 ||Bacardi Owner in Multi-Million Solar Investment The former Bacardi plant’s principal is aiming to ultimately invest $5$6 million in installing solar panels on the property’s eight acres of roof space, with long-term plans involving the supply of power to surrounding subdivisions. Read more 7-1-2014 || Jamaica on Track for Reduction in Energy Bill by 2016 Jamaica remains on track to reduce its energy bill by 2016, says Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell. He noted that this will be achieved through several noteworthy measures including the establishment of a 360-megawatt power plant. Read more 3-1-2014 ||Gestamp Solar Inaugurates 5MW Puerto Rico PV Plant Spanish PV plant developer and operator Gestamp Solar has inaugurated a 5MW solar power installation at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, Puerto Rico. Read more

January 2014 IN REVIEW

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31-1-2014 || Bahamas Environmental Minister leads National Environmental Conclave Developing a sustainable plan for the environment that exceeds the five year election cycle, the Ministry of the Environment met with stakeholders to gather consensus for a meeting of the minds. Read more 30-1-2014 || New Carib Center Promotes Green Business A new World Bank-supported business hub inaugurated on Monday in Trinidad and Tobago will support the growing number of clean energy and climate technology ventures in the Caribbean, the Washington-based financial institution says. The World Bank said the Caribbean Climate Innovation Center (CCIC), first of its kind in the region, will help reduce the significant threats posed by climate change through the creation of new green businesses. Read more 24-1-2014 || ‘Climate Change Key Challenge for Sustainable Development in Region’ As the Caribbean grapples with the devastating effects of climate change, the World Bank has warned that the phenomenon is a “challenge” for sustainable development in developing countries, including the region.

“Climate change is the most significant challenge to achieving sustainable development and it threatens to drag millions of people into grinding poverty,” said the Washington-based financial institution in a statement.

Read more 23-1-2014 ||Pickersgill to Address St Thomas Climate Change Project Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Robert Pickersgill, will give an update today (Thursday, January 23) on the three-year climate change project in Cedar Valley, St Thomas, aimed at boosting the community’s resilience to climate change shocks.

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Content Administrator, CIPORE Caribbean Energy Information System (CEIS), Scientific Research Council (SRC), Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I. 876-927-1779(w) | 876-977-1840(f) | ceis@src-jamaica.org www.ceis-caribenergy.org www.src-jamaica.org

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23-1-2014 || The Cost of Climate Change The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has calculated that the economic losses of climate change for Caribbean nations are US$7.5 billion yearly. “The Caribbean is a very vulnerable subregion that could suffer considerable and negative economic consequences by 2050 because of climate change,” ... Read more 23-1-2014|| Jamaica’s Logistics Hub Closer to Reality With Panama Collaboration Work is far advanced for further collaboration between Jamaica and Panama toward the development of the island’s logistics hub initiative, says Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton.

Read more 21-1-2014 ||Worldwide Water Shortages Slowing Energy Production The World Bank is launching a new initiative at the World Future Energy Summit and International Water Summit in Abu Dhabi that will help developing countries better plan and manage scaling-up energy capacity to meet rising demand, in tandem with water resource management.

Read more 16-1-2014 || Britain Boosts Cooperation in Energy, Agriculture with Cuba A high-ranking British official voiced his country’s interests in boosting cooperation in energy and agriculture with Cuba on Wednesday, the second day of the Business Forum being held in Havana, according to the Cuban News Agency (ACN). Read more 15-1-2014 || Cuban Electronic Components Factory Widens Production Cuban Ernesto Guevara Electronic Components Complex, a place where the only solar panel plant works in the island of Cuba, diversifies its production, with the reopening of the line dedicated to the obtention of energy supporting sources for computers, said their officials here Wednesday. Read more 8-1-2014 || Growing Lettuce With Fish Poop It started out as a class project a little over a year ago, but now university students Henkel Valentine, O’Brian Clarke, and Jovan Johnson have transformed their idea into a sustainable business with dividends not only for their pockets, but the environment as well. It’s a greenhouse project at the University of the West Indies ... Read more 6-1-2014 || Bight Betrayal – Environmentalists Angered as Government Pulls Back on Biosphere Recognition for Portland Protected Area Environmentalists are up in arms over the Government’s decision to defer Jamaica’s application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the Portland Bight Protected Area to be declared a biosphere reserve. Read more 5-1-2014 || A Case for Compensation for Climate Change Destruction Can the countries of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) take international legal action against the states that are warming the planet with devastating consequences, not only for their survival, but in some cases even their existence? Read more 4-1-2014 ||Guyana wants CARICOM to be More Aggressive with Climate Change Issues Guyana says it intends to push Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries for more aggressive action to deal with the issue of climate change following recent adverse weather conditions in the region.

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