The Tribune

ON Tuesday, January 22 US Charge´ d’Affaires John Dinkelman hosted an event at Liberty Overlook in honour of Gary Ward, the Director of American Affairs in the US Department of Energy’s Office of Policy and International Affairs.

Parliamentary Secretary Renward Wells, BEC chairman Leslie Miller and energy officer in the Ministry of Environment and Housing Gilles Deal were among the senior Bahamian officials in attendance.

The event provided an opportunity for stakeholders in the energy sector to discuss the advancement of alternative and renewable energy technologies, a key priority of President Obama’s administration. Charge´ Dinkelman emphasised in his remarks that although the Bahamas, like many countries in the Caribbean, faces significant energy challenges, he is heartened by the efforts being made by the government and the business community to explore ways to increase the use of renewable energy and pass on savings to consumers.

The evening’s guest of honour, Gary Ward, discussed the US Department of Energy’s efforts to increase public-private energy partnerships in the Caribbean including the soon to be announced Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-led Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Programme (CHENACT), which seeks to integrate tourism stakeholders into a broader energy dialogue in the region and promote the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

The initiative will focus on the energy-related challenges and opportunities facing the industry in a region where energy accounts for 20-40 per cent of hotel operating costs.