COMMENTARY

Renewable energy, CARICOM and fossil fuels (Part 1)

by Clarence Pilgrim

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

While I watched the space shuttle Discovery's successful 27,360km/h (17,000mph) re-entry to earth and eventual successful landing in California's Edwards Air Force Base after 8 a.m. (local time), I applauded what I considered yet another triumph for science and technology.

But for all of mankind’s push into new frontiers I cannot but wonder at the irony of how backward we are in some basic areas. When I went to the gas station to fill my jeep, I was amazed at just how much the price of gasoline has risen. On the world market the price of oil is now approximately $66 per barrel.

In countries around the world, and in particular the Caribbean Community, fossil fuels remain the life-blood, which turns the wheels of the economy. Fossil fuel resources have been crucial to our modern society and central to the advancement of human civilizations for the last two centuries. 

Our Caribbean Community’s current economic system is driven by a market that is based on petroleum and oil based products. However, the prices that we pay for this energy supply rarely reflect the true and complete costs of this product on a global scale.

Indirect costs include the value of life-sustaining services provided by nature and the respect of the sustainability limits of our natural resources, such as fisheries, forests and mangrove swamps. Other costs includes crime, oil by-products pollution, declining health of citizens, lawsuits, etc.

Furthermore, it is interesting to note that the progress of a nation is measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), which reflects economics alone. It essentially ignores the well being of society and the environment and it’s natural energy resource potential.

But should we remain at the whims and fancies of the oil-producing cartel? Are there no alternatives to fossil fuels that are both non-renewable and environmentally depleting?

The single, most effective step Caribbean governments can take toward promoting a sustainable energy future is by investing in alternative renewable sources of energy. 

Any serious policy maker cannot ignore the benefits offered by renewable energy sources. From the standpoint of supply, well planned and designed systems will draw from sustainable sources relying on the renewing, cyclical processes of the sun, sea, wind and earth.

It is quite true that presently most if not all-renewable energy resources are intermittent in their ability to produce energy. For example, the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow, in a way that we would like them to do. However, the cycles, which they travel, may be tracked, thus becoming relatively predictable.

A very important consideration is that renewable energy is typically fueled by domestic sources. This would eliminate the dependence on external sources and the subjection to market forces that are out of our control.

It can be said that fossil fuels do serve as the backbone of the Caribbean Communities economies. As considerable importing nations we are extremely vulnerable to unstable political and economic market forces and regimes.

Fossil fuel imports have become solidly connected to economic stability, resulting in some cases in trade deficits. In extreme cases, supply shortages threaten economies with collapse.

The only serious option is that our Caribbean leaders should adopt a determined pro-active approach and create a realistic diverse array of renewable energy technologies that allow our countries to become more self-reliant and economically stable.

A CARICOM Renewable Energy Policy, should take into consideration the tremendous outflow of dollars which, when removed from the national treasury, eliminates a proportional number of financial and career benefits for our Caribbean citizens. Not to mention the special scientific and technological skills which could have been developed.

In contrast, renewable energy sources would generate skilled job opportunities. An effective and realistic CARICOM Renewable Energy Policy would provide governments, Colleges, Companies and other Institutions with an opportunity to research and develop new technologies. Jobs will be created, as there will be a need for the manufacture of renewable products, installation of systems, and maintenance of equipment. 

Crucial to any renewable energy policy is education. Well-intentioned moves serves little purpose if it is without sound information. Education can move mountains.

The creation of a sustainable energy future must be pivoted on an effective education system that teaches us how inherently important that the natural world is with all of its diverse life forms, and the significance of preserving and protecting the environmental integrity of the Caribbean.

This intimately involves using such forms of energy systems that are in harmony with nature.

With an expanding population within the Caribbean Community, there will be a greater need for more energy.

If we are to be competitive in the world economy and provide the kind of services that are essential to the advancement of our society, we need to put in place an effective Renewable Energy Policy, which will help us to make the energy transition to the next level.

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