LUCELEC Pursues Solar, Wind
ST. LUCIA Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC)has said that it has no plans to establish a coal generated power plant in the country contrary to a published statement by Dr. Anderson Reynolds, of Vieux Fort.
In fact LUCELEC said that its concentration is more on renewable energy adding that it has plans for the establishment of wind and solar generated energy which could very well be on stream by year’s end or shortly after.
The electricity company is puzzled by the information in Reynolds possession that would have led him to boldly make such a statement about a coal plant.
According to Reynolds it is his understanding that Invest St. Lucia had proposed to make available to LUCELEC over 60 acres of land in the La Tourney area for the establishment of the plant. He said that the proposed coal generated power plant was coming at a time when both the electricity company and the government were known to be pursuing an agenda of green energy.
He wanted to know whether Invest St. Lucia and LUCELEC had consulted with the community (whose health would be affected) on the placement and environmental feasibility of the plant’s establishment.
Roger Joseph, LUCELEC’s Corporate Communications Manager noted that the company had been looking at its next phase of expansion and that the land identified by Reynolds is the spot LUCELEC also identified for its expansion because of its topography and the fact that Vieux Fort continued to be touted as the next development frontier of St. Lucia by succeeding governments.
He added that security purposes and technical reasons were also factors leading to Vieux Fort being chosenas the venue for the company’s expansion phase.
“In looking at the type of plant to set up coal was not one of those we looked at. We did look at natural gas,” Joseph said.
LUCELEC is looking at establishing a three megawatt solar photo voltaic plant in Vieux Fort and is hoping that by year’s end it would have at least one megawatt of solar energy up and running. The idea is to organize the plant in phases leading to the three megawatts envisioned.
The acreage of land for the solar plant has been reduced since. Invest St. Lucia had taken back some of the land previously allocated to LUCELEC for the expansion of the Vieux Fort cemetery, a move that forced LUCELEC to put in a new application to the Development Control Authority (DCA).
It is unclear whether LUCELEC is in possession of the DCA’s approval, however if not, it’s simply a matter of time before that approval is granted, according to an informed source.
What is certain, however, is that LUCELEC will be conducting an environmental impact assessment study before constructing anything on the land.
“We have been planning to meet with residents in the area. We have a public awareness plan that includes the community,” Joseph said, adding that plans for the photo voltaic plant are definitely on.
The Company is also going full steam ahead with its plans for a wind farm, which is several wind turbines (windmills) group together to generate electricity.
According to Joseph a 12 megawatt wind farm is being looked at somewhere in the Dennery area not too far from the Bordelais Correctional Facility.
He said that soon the company will be erecting equipment in the area for testing of the wind direction, its speed and to determine the proper type of wind turbine to be erected.
The turbines use the wind’s kinetic energy to generate electrical energy that can be used in homes and businesses
A wind turbine works like a high-tech version of an old-fashioned windmill. The wind blows on the angled blades of the rotor, causing it to spin, converting some of the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy. Sensors in the turbine detect how strongly the wind is blowing and from which direction. The rotor automatically turns to face the wind, and automatically brakes in dangerously high winds to protect the turbine from damage.
Wind energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. It is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. The effects on the environment are said to be generally less problematic than those from other power sources.
Roger Joseph, so Dr. Anderson Reynolds has the purposed area to built correct, the name of the culprits ( invest st. lucia, that keep embarrassing us in the name of progress ) correct. And according to you “The electricity company is puzzled by the information Dr. Reynolds possession”. Keep spitting in our eyes and keep telling us it’s rain.
Oh merciful father, you have sent down Pentecostal Percy.
Thanks to the most honorable Dr Reynolds for keeping Vigilance on the Hyenas.
COAL FUEL BE DAMNED! Have you seen the soot covered skies of Great Chinese cities. There, pedestrians mimic surgeons with their filtration masks. For God’s sake this is paradise . the first thing a tourist sees on an international disembarkation is…..wait for it….. VIEUX_FORT ! for crying out loud!
OK Monsieur Joseph, let’s pray that you are not speaking from forked tongued orifice – like da Micoud Dr Rep and the flamboyant SE Castries “Ru Paul” rep . Yeah, the one with a similar last name as thou.
The wrath of Khan is ensconced in my Green Peace commitment to defend the parish of Vieux-Fort and its first order Dutch conerstone windmill locale therein (bet yuh dunno where its exact geo location is ?) from ANY offensive environmental harm; coal, nuclear and fracking being among the top of the NASTIES LIST.
I beg and implore you to listen to the solemn, Solomon like counsel of the truly wise Dr. Anderson.
This province you deemed SECURE for your autocratic exploitation sounds like a grudge retribution from the nemesis of the rep of this Parish? If this is the case then you give all vanguard wolverine warriors an even more glorious call to the ramparts.
Ah, poor jab Joseph you have succumbed to the philistines and chose BARABAS over the Prince of Peace.
Let’s bet that amidst the high heavenly stench that now envelopes inner Castries, a coal power plant would pass for an eau de cologne manufacturing plant from Martinique? Yeah , not secure: The CDC jaguars would sell it to the Gaza Strip , neatly stripped onto freight containers.
Dude we have no GREEN PEACE patience or niceties for any VFort environmental pollutants. If your beef is Kenny Retribution then your redemption is in Hades.
And you guys have nice biblical names to front?
Solar is the way forward. Wind has a small part to play – people dont understand that those wind turbines can be inefficient, make noise and actually need electricity to run. Careful of the strong winds – wind turbines get knocked over and overheat.
No to coal – well done.
The mayor problem at present for Lucelec is collecting their outstanding bills.