ENERGY SECTOR INVESTOR Ralph “Bizzy” Williams is renewing his call for Government to set a minimum price for solar electricity.
The outspoken entrepreneur made the call last week at the official opening of his latest business venture, The Regus Business Centre, which is offering flexible office space in the new One Welches complex in St Thomas.
Williams, who is chairman of Williams Industries Inc., which includes a company specialising in renewable energy installations, said he remained “obsessed” with the sector, but certain policies needed to be made.
He directed his concerns to Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Chris Sinckler, who was the featured speaker at the Regus opening.
“Now in case anybody is in any doubt about my commitment to taking Barbados to a 100 per cent alternative energy, forget it right now. There is no doubt, I am obsessed, [and] will remain obsessed,” Williams said.
“And for your information the roof of this building is covered with photovoltaic panels installed by Williams Solar and if you look outside the car parks will soon be covered . . . similarly, and the company that is using the power is Regus.”
He added: “So we are as committed as we ever were, all I am going to ask . . . is for the minister [of finance] to whisper in the ear of the Minister of Energy that we still don’t have a minimum price for electricity generated from the sun.”
He asked Sinckler to “use his considerable influence to get them to establish a minimum rate because with the rate tied to the price of oil you can’t bank the systems”.
About six months ago, Williams said he feared the solar energy sector could fall apart unless it was overhauled.
Speaking in the context of his plans to construct a $6 million one-megawatt solar farm in Cane Garden, St Thomas, he voiced concern about existing legislation that compelled solar power producers over a certain size to sell all of it to the Barbados Light & Power (BL&P) and then repurchase electricity from the BL&P.
Williams said what solar power suppliers were being paid by BL&P was now less than what they had to pay to repurchase electricity from the company.
He was concerned this would lead to the demise of businesses which had invested substantial sums and were looking for a decent return on investment. (SC)
