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No taxpayers’ $$ for solar powered Community Centres
Posted On 28 Mar 2013
Taxpayers will no longer have to pay thousands of dollars in electricity bills for Community Centres across the country as the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs and the Ministry of Community Development are working together to install solar-powered lights at these centres.
The inauguration ceremony for four solar-powered lights at the Malabar Phase Four Community Centre took place at the Centre on Wednesday evening.
According to the Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs, Mr. Kevin Ramnarine, the installation will help reduce the cost of electricity at that Community Centre.
“The cost to run one of these lights is zero. There is no electricity required from T&TEC.”
Minister Ramnarine said this is part of a three-phase project being undertaken by his Ministry, in its thrust to encourage the use of renewable energy in Trinidad and Tobago.
“There are nine such projects in Trinidad and Tobago, this is one of those nine. That is part of a three-project Programme that the Ministry initiated in 2012.”
He said the second phase of the project is being conducted in a number of schools across the country.
“Where we are installing solar photovoltaic panels in schools and solar water stills in our schools and there are 25 such schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago.”
Minister Ramnarine said this is not the first time solar energy is being used as a source of power in Trinidad and Tobago.
“You will also notice that on the Solomon Hochoy and Uriah Butler Highways the Police Surveillance Bays have also been outfitted with solar lighting and the signage is also powered by solar energy.”
Minister Ramnarine said this is the largest deployment of solar lighting of public spaces in Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension the Caribbean.
Why don’t they just build a solar, wind, or hydroelectric plant for T&TEC to distribute power from? Plenty countries in South America have over 50% renewable energy on their national grid.