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Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Darcy Boyce??

Within the next 12 months, Government will be putting a policy and legislative framework in place which supports energy efficiency and renewable energy.

This was disclosed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Darcy Boyce, who was speaking at the launch of the Barbados Renewable Energy Association, (BREA) at Bagnall’s Point Gallery, Pelican Village, today.

Senator Boyce stated that government is interested in renewable energy and energy efficiency for a number of reasons, since it would not only reduce fossil fuel imports but also create a new industry.

"…If we want to reach our 30 per cent power of generation, we will need to increase training through the technical schools in this area of renewable energy, and we expect that there will be an increase in the number of jobs created for installation and maintenance, and several new businesses will be developed and people who are skilled in this field can earn an income installing and maintaining this new development," he said.

Senator Boyce called the establishment of the BREA timely and necessary, as there will be a need for organisations of its type to help educate businesses and home owners about the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Meanwhile, patron of the BREA, Dr. Erskine Simmons, believes that it is time Barbados went back to using renewable energy like in the early days of the sugar industry.

"We in Barbados [in the past] got most of our economy out of wind energy.?? We now have to reeducate ourselves that the sun is the correct source of energy that we should be using," he observed.

He also suggested that young people could be the driving force for this new industry.

"We in Barbados have the technology, we have the know-how, we can move this country forward.?? The technology has to be given to the young people," Dr. Simmons maintained.

aisha.reid@barbados.gov.bb

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