I reiterate my commitment to ensuring that the citizens of the Federation have access to clean, secure, and affordable energy. I am also committed to the goal of 100 percent of our electricity being supplied from the optimum mix of renewable sources such as geothermal, solar PV, wind, and waste-to-energy.

These commitments will be realized through several legislative, policy, regulatory, and incentive initiatives. These will be aimed at increasing investments in utility-scale and small, distribute renewable energy plants. They will also be aimed at encouraging the adoption of behaviors that produce the most energy-efficient outcomes.

My goal is to build a green economy by pursuing public-private partnerships (PPPs) to attract investments in factories to manufacture solar panels and other parts for the solar PV industry. These are expected to create high-paying, green jobs for our citizens.

All Government built affordable houses will be powered by solar energy and incentives will be given to existing homeowners to retrofit their houses with solar panels. These incentives will be in the form of feed-in tariff schemes. Customs tariff incentives will also be given to encourage the importation and purchase of energy-efficient vehicles, appliances, and other devices.

The Government has communicated its intention to interconnect St. Kitts and Nevis’ electricity grids to form one grid and to export excess energy to neighboring islands. I have started this process with the formation of an energy task force, jointly managed by the Ministry Public Infrastructure, Energy, and Utilities and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action, to oversee this transition. I have also asked the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to assist us to develop a strategy for the transition to 100 percent renewable energy.