APIA, Samoa --- The Bahamas' signing onto SIDS DOCK here at the United Nation's Third International Small Island Developing States Conference was "monumental" as it will not only allow the country make the transformation from fossil fuel-based energy generation to renewable energy, but also provide access to funding that would allow for the investment in, and deployment of, renewable energy technologies throughout the Commonwealth - particularly photovoltaic systems and solar water heaters.
The latter is "extremely, extremely" important for archipelagic island-nations such as The Bahamas, which has to provide energy over a large swath. Making the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy will also have the long-term benefit of reducing not only the effects of Climate Change in The Bahamas, but also the cost of energy, while also reducing the country's Carbon Footprint.
SIDS DOCK, in a nutshell, is a Treaty designed to help finance the transformation of the energy sectors of small island developing states in order to achieve a 25 per cent increase in energy efficiency; generation of a minimum of 50 per cent of electric power from renewable energy resources; and a 25 per cent decrease in conventional transportation fuel use in order to significantly increase financial resources to enable Climate Change adaptation.
Minister of the Environment and Housing, the Hon. Kenred Dorsette, said data indicates that persons who have switched to solar water heaters, for example, have registered savings in their energy bills of between 15-30 per cent.
"Bahamians do not realize how much electricity is used to create hot water in their homes and the installation of solar water heaters can provide them with cost savings (as) data indicates that persons who have switched to solar water heaters have registered savings in their energy bills from between 15-30 per cent and so we will be utilizing funds (derived from being a Signatory to the SIDS DOCK) to focus on the deployment of renewable energy technologies - particularly solar - throughout The Bahamas."

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