The minister of the environment and housing says that a shelved renewable energy project with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is back underway and should be completed next month.
Kenred Dorsett said that a grant from the IDB giving The Bahamas access to $600,000 worth of green technology encountered "a number of challenges" in recent years. Back in October 2010, Alternative Power Solutions (APS) won a bid to supply more than 130 solar water heaters and 33 solar electricity systems for home installation.
While the equipment has been gathering dust ever since, the government is now seeking to revisit the project and distribute the systems to homeowners.
"Our administration inherited a number of problems. A lot of the issues IDB had with the execution transpired before we came on board," he told Guardian Business. "One of the problems we had is the equipment, when it did arrive, did not have all the parts needed to complete the installation. We have resolved that, and subsequent to that, there was a financial component for those that won the bid to get the systems."
The minister said that all of the technology has been completely funded by the IDB. However, there is a cost associated with its installation, which the consumer must bear.
"What I have done is renegotiated some terms to have additional funding available to reduce the cost of installation. The challenge is a lot of people won the bid but did not have the economic situation to put the cash in ahead of time to have it installed. We want to make it easier for people," he said.
Dorsett explained that the government will honor the arrangements of those that signed up for the grant under the previous administration.
Noting that the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC) has separate plans for renewable energy, the minister said these kinds of measures should assist in the general advancement of green technology.
"I hope it will be a pilot that will enable more people to see it on display and understand the benefits and know that it works," he added. "Hopefully when it comes to reducing the cost of electricity, it encourages other Bahamians to look at the technology as a solution."
Alex Storr, the chairman of BMC, revealed to Guardian Business that a new program will soon be rolled out to encourage more renewable energy for government housing.
The plan, he said, is to build future developments with the technology already installed, while offering competitive financing for existing clients in good standing, building the payments directly into a long-term mortgage.
Few subjects in The Bahamas are considered more significant than energy.
Earlier this week, politicians from both parties debated at length in the House of Assembly on the crippling cost of fossil fuels in the country and methods to reduce electricity bills for residents and businesses.

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