Bahamas Should Consider Hawaii Energy Initiatives

By Doug Cotton

As the national energy policy committee considers ways to move the Bahamas towards a cleaner energy future, recent steps by the state of Hawaii may offer some inspiration.

Hawaii’s economy also depends on imported oil, although - like The Bahamas - it is blessed with abundant sources of sun, wind, and ocean energy.

Earlier this year the state unveiled a Clean Energy Initiative, providing a road map towards a future where 70 per cent of electricity and ground transportation needs will come from renewable sources by the year 2030. Currently, the state gets only 10 per cent of its energy from renewable sources.

In June, the state amended its building code to require solar hot water heaters in all new homes beginning in 2010. In October, the government and major electric utilities agreed to implement energy reduction measures and increase the amount of renewable power generation to meet the 70 per cent goal.

These measures include the following: