Jamaica PM Upbeat About NWC's Renewable Energy Thrust

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is upbeat over consideration by the National Water Commission (NWC) to install solar panels to power operations at the Mona Reservoir in St Andrew, in a move to reduce energy cost.

“One project which is under contemplation is putting solar panels over the Mona Dam. If you manage to achieve that I think that would be quite significant,” Holness said.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 27th Annual Conference of the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in St James Monday.

Jamaica Gets First Grant Under US Clean Energy Finance Facility

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded the first grant through the Clean Energy Finance Facility for the Caribbean and Central America (CEFF-CCA), to help develop a 37 megawatt solar farm in Westmoreland.

CEFF-CCA will provide support to Rekamniar Capital Limited, the project developer, to partner with independent power producer Neoen on forming the Eight Rivers Energy Company, which will build the solar facility, according to a release from the US embassy in Kingston.

Paulwell Reports Strong Support for Renewable Energy Policy in Jamaica

Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell says Government's policy shift on alternative energy, including the provision of incentives, is resulting in greater use of and investments in renewable options.

Under the policy, Government is facilitating access to low interest rate loans for businesses and homeowners to enable them to procure renewable energy systems, particularly for solar devices.

"We have (also) removed taxation from solar (systems). In fact, the Government has provided incentives for solar batteries to facilitate solar generation of electricity," Paulwell said.

Jamaica energy minister says can’t afford light bill, switching to solar

Stating that he could no longer afford the high cost of electricity provided by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), Minister of Mining and Energy Phillip Paulwell said he was now installing a solar-energy system at his home and he urged Jamaicans to do the same.

“As the minister of energy, I am going to incorporate renewable energy at my home. And if every single person look at how much you spend, and put aside that money to pay for a solar system, in seven to 10 years, you would have paid for it, and then, thereafter, the cost you derive from that is zero,” he said.

Addressing the People’s National Party (PNP) Region Three meeting of its Regional Executive Council yesterday at the Pembroke Hall High School in North West St Andrew, Paulwell said it was an essential investment and urged Jamaicans to take up the solar-energy system loan being offered by the National Housing Trust (NHT).

Jamaica: New national electric policy with a focus on renewables in the works

Senior Director of Energy in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Fitzroy Vidal,   has informed that the Ministry is currently working on a national electricity policy.

Speaking at a panel discussion on Jamaica's energy future, held on November 10, at the University of Technology (UTech), Mr. Vidal said the policy would be categorised as the sixth sub policy of the National Energy Policy.