( From left to right: Ms. Valerie Hidge, Managing Director, Shirley Heights Lookout, Hon. Dr Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister, Antigua and Barbuda Mr. Jean Ricot Dormeus, OAS Representative, Mr. Hubert Perr, Head of Operations, European Union Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and Deputy Chief of Mission, Christopher Sandrolini, US Ambassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean)

The OAS is assisting the Caribbean region to accelerate the deployment of commercially available renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. This demonstration project was initiated by the ECPA Caribbean Initiative financed by the U.S. Department of State and the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Project (CSEP) program financed by the European Union.

Given the success of the pilot project in showcasing the applicability of solar PV systems and the reduction of electricity consumption within the public sector, the formal inauguration of this project will spotlight the efforts of the OAS through the ECPA Caribbean Initiative and CSEP and A&B Energy Desk in this endeavor.

Antigua and Barbuda:

The main goal is to create a sustainable energy sector that fosters national economic and social development that exploits indigenous energy sources and increase the awareness in Antigua and Barbuda by promoting and demonstrating the use of solar energy technologies in popular sites of the nations’ eco-tourism sector to educate the local citizens and travelers on how the nation is playing its part to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and contributes to mitigating climate change in line with the principles of the National Energy Policy of Antigua and Barbuda approved in June 2011 (facilitated through the CSEP funded by the European Union).

Solar PV system at Shirley Heights National Park lookout in Antigua