Editorial
A long-expected start to the country's necessary pursuit of alternative energy sources and options, the Minister responsible has announced the coming of a new Green Paper on the subject. Energy Minister Conrad Enill told the country of this development via last Thursday's post-Cabinet news conference.
He said the draft paper had been prepared and the Government had in fact gone a step further. It has hired a consultant who is to "flesh out'' the final elements, which will then be made ready for public discussions.
Minister Enill's announcement came weeks after a virtual public appeal for the country to embark on such a process, by Robert Riley, chairman and chief executive officer of bpTT.
In a front page article in the Business Express two weeks ago, Mr Riley made public his thoughts on the subject, saying that Trinidad and Tobago should take the lead in pushing the Caribbean to the point of finding alternatives to current energy sources.
The ambition to find new and renewable alternatives to oil and gas, is in fact one of the pillars on which further regional development has been cast. It is part of the cornerstone for further integration in the Caricom sub-region and the wider Americas grouping as symbolised by intentions expressed in the Declaration of Port of Spain, coming out of the recently held Fifth Summit of the Americas here.
Ultimately also, it is a quest to which countries all over the world have committed themselves, in one form or another. And being a producer of oil and natural gas, until now the only one in this sub-region, this country's role in such a regard is critical.
These two commodities, as indispensable to the country's and the region's survival, continued growth and development as they continue to be, just will not last forever. By simple logic, therefore, the search for renewable and alternative forms of energy will delay the rate of their depletion, while at the same time contributing less to the deterioration of the environment, another critical factor for our survival going forward.
In this regard, the outline of the Cabinet's current position in the matter is encouraging.
There is to be proper consideration of the appropriate energy balance to be arrived at. There is to be proper application of technologies and research into the use of wind and solar power, wave energy and bio-fuels.
Appropriate criteria will be applied to the consideration of modalities for transportation and manufacturing, as well as for commercial and residential usage of these alternatives.
What's more, the Minister disclosed, he is already in possession of a range of proposals from various interests, on projects which are being evaluated.
The country will welcome the national consultations on this step forward in an area as critical to our future as the search for renewable alternatives to oil and gas.Â
