Lucaya Solar Power breaks ground on first utility scale solar farm in The Bahamas

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

LUCAYA Solar Power Ltd. officially broke ground on its $15m solar farm project in Freeport on Friday.

The site, located on land adjacent to the YMCA, is one of two that LSP has acquired for their project, which is being supported by the Inter-American Development Bank.

The work is expected to take nine to 10 months to complete and will employ a total of 80 Bahamians during the construction.

Social Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe was among several invited guests who attended the ceremony.

Jorge Marquez, CEO and President of Lucaya Solar Power Ltd; Dave McGregor, President of Grand Bahama Power Company; Daniela Carrera Marquis, IDB Country Representative for the Bahamas; and Sarah St George, vice chairman of Grand Bahama Port Authority, brought brief remarks.

On Thursday, Mr Marquez signed the licensing agreement with the Grand

Bahama Port Authority, and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Grand Bahama Power Company.

He believes the solar farm project is something Bahamians should have been enjoying a long time ago.

“From the investor side, we saw the need for this type of solution for the country,” he said. “I think that what we are doing here