Environment Hits: 161

Caribbean Countries to Be Represented at Major Energy Conference in Miami

Environment Hits: 161
Environment Hits: 161

Miami, FLORIDA - Caribbean countries will be represented at the three-day 17th annual  Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) that gets underway here on May 7.

creforumThe CREF said the forum is the “largest gathering of the regional energy market on the annual calendar”, with more than 25 Caribbean countries being represented at the event.

“Simply put, the conference represents the market, the full ecosystem of stakeholders,”  CREF said, adding the forum is unique in terms of its “size and the seniority and breadth of its participants”.

The forum is expected to attract more than 500 delegates from 40 countries and gets underway with an interactive workshop hosted by the World Bank titled “Unlocking the Caribbean’s Renewable Energy Potential”.

The organizers said that there are several topics driving this year’s forum including energy independence in a time of geopolitical uncertainty; future-focused utilities including renewables capacity, battery storage and capital expenditure strategy; attracting and effectively deploying impact investment; addressing regulatory, operational and financial barriers; and national energy strategies.

Bermuda, which has since announced plans to achieving 85 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035.said it will  be represented at the Miami conference by its Home Affaires Minister, Alexa Lightbourne, who  will address Bermuda’s “integrated approach to energy reform.

“This forum provides an invaluable opportunity for Bermuda to contribute to and learn from regional counterparts as we strengthen our path towards a just energy transition, one that balances innovation with inclusion, said Lightbourne, who will  be the featured speaker in the CREF Ministerial: Diverse Pathways to Energy Transition in the Caribbean panel.

Other Caribbean speakers will include Nevis Premier Mark Brantley,  St. Vincent and the Grenadines Minister of Urban Development, Benarva Browne, the Minister of Energy in the Bahamas, Jobeth Lillian Coleby-Davis, Grenada’s Environment and Energy Renewable Minister, Kerryne James and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)  climate  envoy,  Dr. James Fletcher.