Attorney General Ryan Pinder.
NASSAU, The Bahamas--The government plans to establish solar power production on New Providence that would provide thirty per cent of the island’s peak generation load, Attorney General (AG) Ryan Pinder said on Thursday.
The announcement comes as Bahamians continue to face exorbitant electricity costs. Pinder touted the undertaking as a solution to the issue.
“In Nassau, we look to launch a request for proposal process ... to establish up to 100 megawatts of solar power production across Nassau in up to 10 sites to supplement the traditional power being produced by BPL [Bahamas Power and Light – Ed.],” Pinder said in the Senate.
“... This will lower the costs of electricity in Nassau, providing renewable generation from solar and result in providing at least 30% of the peak load of power generation in Nassau from renewables.
“I want to make it clear – never has The Bahamas put forward an organised, transparent and aggressive framework for solar energy production for Nassau.”
Pinder said the government also plans to introduce solar generation on other islands.
“We have likewise issued requests for expressions of interest and will issue requests for proposals for a new power generation framework for the Family Islands,” he said.
“We have identified up to 16 sites in our Family Islands where we will be soliciting proposals. We seek to implement a hybrid approach to power generation where the production is a minimum of 30% solar.
“The request for proposal for this is sitting in my email inbox right now for review and signing off. This will bring transformational change to our Family Islands, providing a fundamental basis for developing their economic security.”
Pinder said Bahamians will be given a scoring preference in the request for proposal process.
He also noted that renewable energy legislation will be passed to provide a framework for industrial-scale solar generation and provide incentives for its development.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has repeatedly said the government is committed to achieving a goal of generating at least 30% of The Bahamas’ energy through renewable sources by 2030. ~ The Nassau Guardian ~
