The Road to Renewable Energy
BASSETERRE— The Federation’s renewable energy transition is moving in the right direction as Prime Minister The Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew announced two milestone developments: the imminent release of a Request for Proposals for a 50-megawatt solar plant, and confirmation that a geothermal drilling contract has been dispatched to the winning bidder.
Speaking at his third Roundtable press engagement of the year, Dr. Drew described geothermal as “the most advanced we have ever reached” on that front, expressing confidence that drilling could begin before year’s end. Together, the two projects represent the twin pillars of the government’s renewable energy strategy — solar for immediate, scalable capacity and geothermal for long-term, baseload power drawn from the island’s volcanic heat.
“The sun can be harnessed and no matter what is happening, the sun will shine and we can predict how much our energy will cost,” Dr. Drew said.
The urgency behind the push is economic as much as environmental. With rising fuel prices linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East already being felt locally at the pump, Dr. Drew warned that continued dependence on imported fossil fuels leaves the Federation exposed to forces far beyond its control. Renewable energy, he argued, offers a predictable and sovereign alternative.
The Prime Minister identified five distinct energy sources available to the federation: solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and wave energy. While solar and geothermal are the immediate priorities, Dr. Drew framed the broader picture as one of abundance rather than scarcity — a nation not short of energy, but still in the process of harnessing it.
