Anybody who assumed that the idea of renewable energy in Anguilla is something of the past, is mistaken. It is very much alive, as the Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Haydn Hughes, related on Wednesday, February 10.
The Minister, known for his passion for the development of the island’s infrastructure, was a guest on the Radio Anguilla programme, Talk Anguilla Rebranded, part 2, with Keithstone Greaves.
“The reason I want to see the race to energy as a component to the energy delivered in Anguilla, is because of Corito,” Minister Hughes said. “I had an occasion to drive over to Corito a few weeks ago…and I was totally taken aback by the mountain [of garbage] over there. That’s why I said, some time ago, in parliament, that at some point in time that Corito is going to be the highest point in Anguilla.”
Responding to a statement that some persons in that area were planning to take legal action against the Government for how the dumpsite was being managed, Mr. Hughes told the interviewer: “The way we are looking to remedy that situation is to reclaim the Corito dumpsite and use the garbage there to create energy. If anyone thinks that I am talking nonsense, do your research and see what we are talking about is nothing new.”
For one thing, it is nothing new because, during the former Anguilla United Movement Government, of which Mr. Hughes was a member in 2010, the possibility of generating electricity from the dumpsite was a hot topic. It was being promoted by the then Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Evan Gumbs, and a company was already engaged in a feasibility study for the planned project.
Now, returning to the garbage/electricity idea, Mr. Hughes stated: “It has been practised not only around the world, but also in the Caribbean. It is being done in St. Barths. St. Maarten is going to invest in renewable energy. It is being done in Barbados. We want to have a company that will deliver. There will be a power purchase agreement where the company will create the energy, reclaim the land, and sell the energy to ANGLEC – and ANGLEC will deliver the electricity to the people of Anguilla. You will also have to incorporate that with solar and other sources of energy.”
Mr. Hughes also mentlioned other means of electricity generation, including hydro-electricity, as was demonstrated in a prototype for renewable energy by Mr. Jubri Lewis, a former sixth form student, now a member of the ANGLEC Board.
The Minister continued: “There is an interest in wind energy as well. A wind farm is something that you can look at. It takes into consideration land and, as you know, the Government of Anguilla is very limited in terms of the amount of land that we have. There was a wind study that was already completed but, again, we probably will have to partner with landowners to be able to erect wind farms on their land.”
Told about wind farms in the sea – in several countries – Mr. Hughes replied: “I will not be part of a Government who will put wind farms in our oceans. Even though we have a tremendous amount of ocean territory, I don’t think that anybody, local and visitor alike, want to see wind turbines out there in the ocean. Not only in terms of the sea creatures. We utilise that ocean a lot – not only for fishing, but boat racing and our leisure and so forth. I cannot see an area in Anguilla where we can erect a wind farm in the ocean – even in the ocean at Windward Point between Scrub Island [and Anguilla]. I just can’t envision it. You will have to convince me of it; but my position, right now, is that I will not subscribe to a wind farm in Anguilla’s ocean territory.”
