NEP Meeting Phenton Neymour

[Money Talk's]

DAY JUST GONNA LOOK AT NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY WHEN 6000 BAHAMIANS GET DAY LIGHT TURN OFF LAST FRIDAY ? OMG
YUNNA KEEP PAYING YA HI FUEL SURCHARGE AT BEC;-)


Meeting with Minister Phenton Neymour to Discuss Draft National Energy Policy - THIS THURSDAY SEPTEMBE SendR 17TH @ COB

“Recognizing the important role energy plays in the development of nations; .. (and) that The Bahamas depends on imported petroleum products to satisfy over 99% of its consumer energy demand; …. (and) acknowledging that the demand for electricity is projected to grow at an annual rate of 8% over the next five years mainly due to large new private tourism investment projects, and electricity expansion costs will be high and financing a challenge…..” the Government of The Bahamas established a National Energy Policy Committee to oversee and spearhead strategies for developing and implementing a National Energy Policy.
That committee has completed a First Report of which the Hon. Minister of State for the Environment, The Hon. Phenton Neymour wishes to present and discuss with the business community. A meeting has been scheduled for this Thursday, September 17th, 2009 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Michael Eldon Board Room of the College of The Bahamas, Oakes Field. (The Boardroom is on the 3rd floor of the Michael Eldon Complex behind Starbucks and the C.O.B. bookstore, Chapter One)
The President and Board of Directors of the Chamber invite your participation in this important meeting and your review of the policy which can be found on the BEST website at http://www.best.bs/Webdocs/NEPC_1stReport_NEP.pdf. Your feedback is urged.

[Money Talk's]

Business owner takes solar energy system off-line


Published On:Tuesday, September 15, 2009
By CHESTER ROBARDS
Business Reporter

THE OWNER of Sure Alarms, who took his business off BEC's grid bar the air conditioning, through the installation of solar power, yesterday said he was shutting his system down until the Government's position on alternative energy usage was clear.
Graham Weatherford said the Government's policy on alternative energy and the language of the Bahamas Electricity Act are too ambiguous to risk the $3,000 fine that could be imposed on him for generating his own "clean" power.
He said his solar power system could have allowed him to pass his energy savings on to his customers - he had already begun to advertise the discounts - but he now has to renege on those deals.
"You would think the Government would encourage clean energy," said Mr Weatherford.
Responding to Tribune Business' article on the system last week, Phenton Neymour, minister of state for the environment, had warned Bahamians to stay within the law on alternative energy supply. Mr Weatherford said he felt the article spoke directly to him.
Mr Neymour did mention that the government has been exploring clean energy development such as solar power, and had advocated the installation of solar water heaters throughout the Bahamas.
According to Mr Weatherford, the Government, through Mr Neymour, should have touted his solar power generating facility as the way forward for energy production.
Instead, he lamented, they felt it more necessary to send out warnings.
Mr Neymour suggested in the article that one concern coming out of BEC was the destruction of their assets if alternative energy peripherals were not properly integrated into home or office systems. Mr Weatherford insists that his solar power plant is in no way affecting BEC's operations.
The Bahamas Electricity Act says: "Except with the approval of the Minister and in conformity with any conditions to which any such approval may be made subject, no person other than the Corporation shall install or operate in New Providence any generating station with a generating capacity exceeding 250 kilowatts.
This was "provided that the prohibition imposed by this section shall not apply to any standby generating plant which is used only for the supply of energy in case of the failure of the energy supply by the Corporation or other emergency. The Minister shall not refuse his approval under this section for the installation or operation of any generating station by any person in any case in which the energy required by such person cannot be supplied or cannot be supplied within a reasonable time by the Corporation.
"Any person who installs or operates or permits the operation of any generating station in contravention of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $3,000 and, in the case of a continuing offense, to a further penalty of one $150 for each day that the offense continues."
The Government continues to work on its national energy policy, which will include some exploratory alternative energy initiatives. It has been determined thus far that waste to energy could be the best option for renewable energy.
Options for solar and wind energy are also being explored for implementation in the Family Islands.

[Money Talk's]

Minister warns: 'Stay within law on alternative energy supply'


Phenton Neymour


Published On:Friday, September 11, 2009
By CHESTER ROBARDS
Business Reporter

THE MINISTER responsible for the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) yesterday warned that anyone powering their properties or businesses through alternative energy sources should stay within the law.
Phenton Neymour, responding to yesterday's Tribune Business article entitled Business owner close to escaping BEC through $35k solar investment, said there are regulations in place regarding private power generation that should be adhered to.
According to Mr Neymour, those who retrofit their home or office power supply with an alternative energy source should take care not to adversely impact any BEC assets.
He said he had not heard of Sure Alarm's move to solar power, but the Government was reviewing the regulatory framework for the energy sector "with a view for allowing independent power producers".
Owner of Sure Alarms, Graham Weatherford, told Tribune Business that he was close to being completely power independent and off BEC's grid, via the installation of a $35,000 solar-powered electric system currently capable of running everything in his store except the air conditioners.
Mr Neymour said he had mentioned several times that the Bahamas could move more towards the use of solar power, namely the use of solar water heaters.
The Government had also sought to encourage the use of this method of power generation by allowing the importation of solar panels and their peripherals to be duty free.
However, the Bahamas Electricity Act states: "Except with the approval of the Minister, and in conformity with any conditions to which any such approval may be made subject, no person other than the Corporation shall install or operate in New Providence any generating station with a generating capacity exceeding 250 kilowatts."
This was "provided that the prohibition imposed by this section shall not apply to any stand-by generating plant, which is used only for the supply of energy in case of the failure of the energy supply by the Corporation or other emergency. The Minister shall not refuse his approval under this section for the installation or operation of any generating station by any person in any case in which the energy required by such person cannot be supplied or cannot be supplied within a reasonable time by the Corporation.
"Any person who installs or operates or permits the operation of any generating station in contravention of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $3,000 and, in the case of a continuing offense, to a further penalty of $150 for each day that the offense continues."
President and chief executive of Wind Sun Water Company, Elton Smith, argued that this part of the Act asserts private citizens can generate their own power as "the average 2,400 square foot household only needs approximately 6 to 8kw to operate properly (including air-conditioning). The vast majority of Bahamian homes can do this today quite legally".
He and other advocates for alternative energy then suggest that due to the high number of power outages experienced, and damage to property as a result of brownouts from the BEC power interruptions, one can be completely justified in choosing to outfit a house or a business with "clean" power.