new energy goals

Finding and implementing alternative sources of energy generation that are more friendly on our environment will be key to protecting this region for future generations.

This is according to Chairman of CARILEC and the CEO of the Grenada Electricity Services Ltd., Collin Cover, who delivered the Chairman’s Remarks at the Chief Executive Officers and Leadership Conference, held recently at the Hilton Hotel Barbados.

“We in the scientific community have collectively brought us here – where energy production is carbon based, not maliciously, but as we explore new frontiers we sometimes cause unintended consequences, collateral damage – and our dalliance with carbon based energy has certainly brought with it consequences.”

Therefore, Cover stated, it means that this same community must seek out ways in which to reverse this trend.

“And we in the scientific community will have to find a way to reverse what we have wrought on ourselves. We will pursue these through several means. The lowering of our carbon footprint through the use of renewable or non-carbon based energy and energy efficiency.

“Another way we can aid this process is through reforestation. It does not have the sexy ring as GHS reduction, but every little bit helps. However, the main point that I want to make is this: to get us started there will be a need for donor funds and we welcome the Caribbean Climate Smart Decelerator and other donors. But we have to find a way that our processes must make economic sense. They must become sustainable businesses. Failing that, our future is at stake. And when I say ‘our future’, I do not mean the future of the utilities, I mean the future of the Caribbean people.”

The CARILEC Chairman added that this would be imperative in ensuring that our future generations are able to live, work and enjoy the same environment that we do.

“Utilities must provide clean, affordable, reliable and available power to our people to empower the advancement of the Caribbean. I remember two years ago at our conference in the Cayman Islands, it was said that this is not the utility of our grandfathers, and in that two year span, I have come to realise that it is not the utility of our fathers or even our utilities. What I see evolving in front of us is the utility of our children.

“Our job is to find sustainable business models that will preserve our environment and deliver energy to our people. And hence our conference theme, “Leadership in an Age of Disruption – Managing the 3 D’s – Digitalisation, Decarbonisation and Decentralisation”.