Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, has announced that procurement permits have been approved for the expansion of the Wigton wind farm with an additional 18 megawatts.
He also disclosed that a private power company is looking to partner with the Government for the expansion project.
“We have no reservations about the benefits that this will yield. I am heartened by the number of proposals that we are receiving from private investors to develop renewable energy in Jamaica, but this cannot happen in a vacuum. Potential investors need background information that is informed by rigorous analysis and research,” Mr. Mullings said.
He also noted that some 40 proposals are now before the Office of Utilities and Regulation in response to the invitation for bids to develop renewable energy in Jamaica.
The Minister was speaking during his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (July 1).
Mr. Mullings also informed that Jamaica is a member of a technical working group to access the potential for renewable energy projects in PetroCaribe member countries.
“We are also partnering in a number of renewable energy initiatives with our CARICOM partners. We have been working and we have prepared some exciting projects for the country,” the Minister stated.
“A project to come on stream is the generation of two megawatts of electricity using wind turbines without gearboxes. This project will be located at the Port Authority. If the project is successful, it will be replicated across the Petro Caribe member countries,” he continued.
He also noted that another project “is to install a bank of solar panels in one of our rapidly growing communities.” Mr. Mullings said it is expected that this community will eventually supply electricity to the national grid.
Jamaica Information Service – Government of Jamaica
3 July 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/07/03/permits-approved-for-expansion-of-wigton-wind-farm/