GRANTEE EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR WATERKEEPERS BAHAMAS

must be replicated in the country.”

LSP is the first PPA signed by GBPC. It will generate 9.5 megawatts of energy. There are plans for other PPAs to soon follow.

LSP is 65 percent Bahamian owned. When construction is completed, the company will employ a small staff of four for the operation and maintenance of the project.

In her remarks, Sarah

St George, vice chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, said LSP’s project “is an incredible service for the Bahamas and Grand Bahama.”

“This is the first utilityscale solar farm not only in Grand Bahama, but the entire Bahamas,” she said. “The Bahamas has a green mandate to move toward 30 percent of renewables by 2030, and we are on the way. We are currently on a path to 22 megawatts out of roughly a total of 90 megawatts.”

“This project represents 9.5 megawatts or 6 percent of the island’s generation. So, you at LSP are blazing a trail.”

Ms St George also recognised Grand Bahama Power President Dave McGregor who came to Grand Bahama six years ago to initiate the renewable transformation in the island, before Hurricane Dorian halted their solar plant construction.

She said that in the coming months, Grand Bahamians will hear news of other projects to complement LSP’s project.

Dave McGregor said one of the reasons the journey was so long as they developed the PPA was that GBPC was keen to get well priced electricity.

“That is not always the case across the Caribbean, but I am proud to say the cost of electricity we procured from this project over the next 25 years is being procured at a very competitive price.

“So, that will help ensure price stability for customers, not necessarily reduction,” he said.

Mr McGregor said that Grand Bahama has enjoyed price stability on the island for the last six years. He noted that the fuel cost had been frozen at 10 cents, and is now just under 12 cents.

“What the solar plant will do is allow us to spend less in fuel, but we do have to pay Lucaya Solar for their energy. So, you will see that stability as soon as the plant is switched on in a few months.

“As more and more firms come on, it allows us to focus on the poles and wires and distribution side, and allows others the opportunity to fulfill the generation side,” he explained.

Daniela Carrera Marquis, of IDB, believes more solar farms should be built in the Family Islands.

“This pioneer event is an important contribution to the agenda on climate change and the reduction of CO2 for the Bahamas,” she said.

In addition to being a financially sound project, Ms Marquis said it meets four of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WATERKEEPERS

Bahamas (WKB) received a ‘Grantee Excellence

Award’ for its outstanding contribution to community engagement through its Dover Sound mangrove restoration work.

Rupert Hayward, Vice Chair of Bahamas Protected Areas Fund (BPAF), and Karen Panton, executive director of BPAF, presented the award to the organisation on Thursday. Ms Panton praised WKB for their excellent work at Dover Sound.

“I am really pleased to present this excellence award to Waterkeeper Bahamas because of the work they have been doing over and beyond just securing the project objective, which was to restore mangroves at Dover Sound, but also to activate and motivate the community to become involved in conservation in the Bahamas,” she said.

“As NGOs, we struggle sometimes with getting communities involved, and we saw WKB not only engaged in the government level, but also engaged with local families. And we saw the many gardens, many mangrove sites that contributed to Waterkeepers securing over and above the $30,000 objective they had for the project. We are really pleased.”

Ms Panton said BPAF has had lots of investments with other organisations, including the University of the Bahamas, Bahamas National Trust and Restoration of National Parks.

“All our grantees have done well, but WKB has demonstrated excellence and we are pleased to be here to give them this award today,” she said.

Rashema Ingraham, executive director at WKB, said: “It is a great day for the organisation and its partners who were involved in the mangrove restoration work at Dover Sound.

“We are happy that the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund recognised the work and effort that all of us, the GB community, put into executing this project,” she said. She commended BPAF for providing support to organisations through funding.

Ms Ingraham said that Waterkeepers is focused on swimmable, fishable, and drinkable water. She noted that the water at Dover Sound was a spot for kayaking, bonefishing, and where fishers gained access to their traps.

She explained that it was important to rebuild the mangrove forest there that was devastated by Hurricane Dorian.