The Great Wilson City Power Plant Indeed

Like parts of Greece a few weeks ago, the City of Angels (Los Angeles) is burning, again. Although no stranger to forest fires, the magnitude and intensity of its spread is attributable to the fact that Earth’s surface is getting hotter and hotter. Even though the initial cause of the fire is said to have been man-made, officials admit that excessively dry conditions, created a perfect scenario for the out of control blaze.

Every corner of our planet is experiencing some threat from the fury of Mother Nature in response to Global Warning. As the countdown to Copenhagen (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) ticks nearer, every serious government and regional block is giving special consideration to their respective goals and needs to be presented at the Convention. Just recently, Ministers from ten African Countries met to strategize their demands, almost as restitution, over the fact that although Africa emits (percentile wise) among the least levels of greenhouse gases, that Continent is pegged to suffer most.

Another region which Scientists have predicted will face great devastation is the Caribbean – flat lying Island Nations in particular. Not only will Global Warming increase the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones and associated weather but the melting of arctic ice shelves will cause a rise in sea levels which will dramatically “swallow” much of the land mass of non mountainous terrain. Some projections for The Bahamas in fifty years show us losing up to 90% of the land mass of Islands such as Grand Bahama (The Fleming Strategy for Grand Bahama Island), the coast of which is not very high above sea level. The Bahamas and the Caribbean by extension have already been warned as to what this is likely to mean for tourism and the displacement of populations.

With the threat of Global Warming being so imminent and pronounced, one would imagine that countries set to suffer most from Climate Change would be doing all that they can to not only sound off at the more industrialized among us but also to set examples as to how to be more environmentally responsible.

There must be a resounding voice, a clear message articulated at December’s meeting, that: just as humanity cannot allow war or greed or oppression nor any other form of injustice to threaten the existence of any nation – heavily industrialized countries cannot be allowed to continue to put at risk the futures of the less developed, the less affluent. Climate Change is this generation’s great cause – a cause this time more universal than the needful fall of Hitler’s regime in their annihilation of the Jews; of slavery and post slavery segregation and colonial apartheid; of even the personal and collective struggle of HIV/AIDS.

Here in The Bahamas, we are all aware of our challenges when it comes to the efficient, responsible and affordable delivery of our energy needs. The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) is of late operating with much borrowing, while having to initiate creative solutions for growing demands for energy consumption in an archipelagic Country.

So as to stress the apolitical nature of present concern, we applaud the Government for their compassionate approach a few months back in attempting to respond to the many households whose power supplies were at threat of being interrupted due to the economic ramifications personally in the lives of many affected by a global recession. Additionally, we applaud both the BEC and Freeport Power for their seeming commitment to researching the possible use of alternative sources of energy as evidence of this Country’s own attempt to cut our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels, demonstrative of our ecological conscientiousness in the mitigation against Global Warming.

Having noted this however, like unexplained hikes in billing at times, we are similarly perplexed as to the proposed plans for the Great Wilson City Power Plant in Abaco. The intended move by BEC and the Government strikes as more than a mystery (as described by columnist Larry Smith) – indeed, it is a grave inconsistency! We need not examine it again in depth, as Larry Smith exercised in surprising fashion a great degree of detailed objectivity in his article, “The Great Wilson City Power Plant Mystery,” found on his web-page http://bahamapundit.com .

We make mention however, that what is proposed is one of the most harmful carbon emitting forms of energy production available because bunker fuel contains the highest levels of impurities imaginable. Not only does this potentially undermine our ability to seriously appeal to the more industrialized nations to cut their emissions, it is environmentally unfriendly. We ask therefore, that the Government through BEC ensures that what is planned for Abaco at the new power plant is indeed, after careful examination, the best option short term and long term for that Island and our Country, and that it is handled in a truly transparent and accountable way.

Having an affiliation with an alternative energy company in the United States, which was in talks with the Schooner Bay Development in Abaco, we can reveal that alternative energy solutions are available for that Island. And while an integrated solution would include wind, solar, thermal energy storage, and a boiler, preferred fuels which are renewable and carbon neutral would be the most suitable to be burned. The Government’s commitment to a project as such would not only send the right kind of message to the Global community but would certainly attract sufficient backing and attention so as to set a trend in the region. This would truly signal that we are prepared to enter the new age of energy production, and to be a part of what the Americans believe will drive the new economy.

Behold I show you a mystery indeed, we are not all asleep. We are awake and watching and in need of answers. After all, the environmental decisions we make today will decide the quality of life to be endured by generations to follow.