After a series of blackouts from electrical load shedding, the Bahamian government is working to implement its National Energy Policy with the installation of solar panels.

“The majority or the largest consumer of petroleum products in the Bahamas is BEC [the Bahamas Electricity Corporation)…our electrical companies,” said Environment Minister Phenton Neymour. “It is time that the Bahamas addresses energy consumption seriously. We are an archipelago and BEC has 30 plants throughout the Bahamas, which is very costly to maintain.

So if we can reduce the amount of energy they have to produce, we also help ourselves.” The government’s solar push has involved both installation of solar water heaters in government subdivisions, along with a new initiative to encourage citizens to purchase solar photovoltaic panels.

–Bahamas Information Service