EDIN (Energy Development in Island Nations) is an international partnership with the goal of “advance the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in islands across the globe”. They have already been doing work in Bonaire (previously mentioned on Green Antilles in this post about wind energy in the Caribbean) and have also begun renewable energy development projects in Dominica:
The Iceland and Dominica Collaboration pilot project will leverage Iceland’s proven model of transition from a fossil fuel–dependent economy to a clean energy economy. In helping Dominica harness its renewable energy potential, this Energy Development in Island Nations (EDIN) project will support the capacity-building efforts of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Dominica has significant geothermal resources, and Iceland will lend its longstanding technical and legal expertise in developing this sustainable energy source…
and the US Virgin Islands:
The United States of America’s U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) pilot project is charting the course toward a secure, sustainable, clean energy future for the USVI and the Caribbean. Through energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy development, this Energy Development in Island Nations (EDIN) project will drive the transition to a clean energy economy and support the USVI’s goal of a 60% reduction in fossil fuel-based energy consumption by 2025.
By harnessing the USVI’s natural resources and the ingenuity of its people, the EDIN/USVI pilot project aims to
• Increase the affordability and reliability of energy throughout the territory
• Build a thriving clean energy sector that generates green jobs
• Preserve the natural beauty that is the lifeblood of the islands.This total reliance on oil leaves the territory vulnerable to fluctuating global oil prices that can have devastating economic effects for individuals and businesses alike. With USVI energy costs running nearly three times the national average, energy price spikes are next to impossible for ratepayers to absorb.
And as an island community, the USVI is among the first to feel the impact of the environmental threats associated with fossil fuel-based energy sources—rising sea levels, intense hurricanes, and widespread loss of coral reefs.
The USVI pilot will build upon the experience the United States has gained through its participation in the Hawai’i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI). Like HCEI, the EDIN/USVI project will focus on achieving specific and measurable clean energy targets.
Find out more by following the links above to the EDIN website. There’s also more information about their Caribbean project in their news archives.
(A tip of the hat to Green Dominica for alerting me to this news.)
[Photo: Mr eNil]
