National

$36M Renewable Infrastructure Investment for Grand Bahama & Abaco

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Nearly $40 million dollars in renewable energy infrastructure is on the way for two major islands.

Published

3 years ago

August 13, 2022

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Nearly $40 million dollars in renewable energy infrastructure is on the way for two major islands, with the commissioning of a multi-million-dollar micro-grid solar system on Ragged Island.

The Davis administration will invest more than $36m in renewable infrastructure on Abaco and East Grand Bahama.

The announcement by Prime Minister Philip Davis came during a commissioning ceremony on Friday for a nearly $5m micro-grid solar system on Ragged Island.

The prime minister also detailing a $14.2m investment in a 25-megawatt battery storage system at the Blue Hills Power Station in New Providence, and says plans to assess Family Islands for the installation of solar energy will get underway soon.

As for the newly minted micro-grid for Ragged Island, the prime minister says the commissioning means more resilience in the face of future hurricanes while providing greener energy, and keep the lights on even when the central grid is down.

Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) officials say the 21,000 gallons of fuel used to supply the island has been reduced to 9,000.

Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears calling it the first step in the reduction of the country’s carbon footprint.

Ragged Island was ravaged by hurricane Urma back in 2017, leaving it uninhabitable.

The former administration announced plans at the time to turn the island into a green space, but that didn’t happen.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper says the commissioning signifies the rebuilding of the island.