Chapter III Verse XII - The Power Off...
It’s that time of year again. That time when you can’t tell if that layer of wet clinging to your skin is a result of your just-finished shower or that sheen of ever-present sweat that brings to mind words such as ‘tropical’ and ‘hell’. And what summer season would be complete without frequent, random failures of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation? I would like to focus on these power failures and their genesis this week. My goal is to awaken a sense of national responsibility (rather than it’s more popular but lazier brother, ‘national pride’).
A nation’s power supply is arguably as essential as its food supply. On a personal level a lack of power can cripple our homes quickly; no hot water (if you depend on a well and pump no water at all), no iron, no fridge and of course, no fans or air conditioners. Businesses and schools without generators are equally challenged as their essential services shut down.
As the cost of oil rises so does the cost of each kilowatt hour. This puts the price of living directly into the hands of the heartless profiteers who control this planet’s supply of oil.
It is presently illegal to use solar energy or wind energy or any alternative form of electricity supply if B.E.C. is available. This offends me since I don’t think it’s a good idea to force people to use an overworked, sporadically-functioning power supply instead of developing more practical, less expensive ways to create electricity for their homes and businesses.
In fact, I think solar energy and its research should be a national priority. I would love to see the College of The Bahamas develop a solar energy department to study, test and implement new power solutions. We continue to produce doctors, lawyers, accountants and architects but how many of these do we need? I would be happier to announce that we had developed a new solar energy system developed by Bahamians for Bahamians than to watch another Doctor’s office open on Centreville.
As the cost for a gallon of gas rises to more than the price of a fast-food lunch, more of us are beginning to realize that world events affect our daily lives. If we, as a nation, do not learn to take care of our basic needs we are going to be left behind. I suppose I should say further behind since many nations are depending more on bio-diesel and solar, wind and hydro power.
With little in the way of resources, our country has made a living by selling our services. Mostly we provide hotels, taxis and tour guides. That’s fine, but I would like to see the day when our schools and businesses push for more practical trades like agriculture, information management and of course, energy production.
I imagine the whole country coming alive as we announce a new national goal of alternative energy in every government building, with energy systems that were designed and built by Bahamians. Perhaps I am dreaming. But I think it’s time that we set national goals beyond tourism, sports and politics. It’s time we argued about something less vague than ‘reducing crime’.
With energy prices rising faster than the mercury in our thermometers this is the perfect time to encourage individuals to become more independent. Will B.E.C. lose that much money? Isn’t it overworked already? Besides, it exists to serve us. If it is inefficient or out-of-date it needs to adapt or die. For too long we have suffered the effects of government monopolies that, with no incentive to improve, hold us hostage, forcing us to suffer terrible service and worse prices.
- Dsus Pays
A nation’s power supply is arguably as essential as its food supply. On a personal level a lack of power can cripple our homes quickly; no hot water (if you depend on a well and pump no water at all), no iron, no fridge and of course, no fans or air conditioners. Businesses and schools without generators are equally challenged as their essential services shut down.
As the cost of oil rises so does the cost of each kilowatt hour. This puts the price of living directly into the hands of the heartless profiteers who control this planet’s supply of oil.
It is presently illegal to use solar energy or wind energy or any alternative form of electricity supply if B.E.C. is available. This offends me since I don’t think it’s a good idea to force people to use an overworked, sporadically-functioning power supply instead of developing more practical, less expensive ways to create electricity for their homes and businesses.
In fact, I think solar energy and its research should be a national priority. I would love to see the College of The Bahamas develop a solar energy department to study, test and implement new power solutions. We continue to produce doctors, lawyers, accountants and architects but how many of these do we need? I would be happier to announce that we had developed a new solar energy system developed by Bahamians for Bahamians than to watch another Doctor’s office open on Centreville.
As the cost for a gallon of gas rises to more than the price of a fast-food lunch, more of us are beginning to realize that world events affect our daily lives. If we, as a nation, do not learn to take care of our basic needs we are going to be left behind. I suppose I should say further behind since many nations are depending more on bio-diesel and solar, wind and hydro power.
With little in the way of resources, our country has made a living by selling our services. Mostly we provide hotels, taxis and tour guides. That’s fine, but I would like to see the day when our schools and businesses push for more practical trades like agriculture, information management and of course, energy production.
I imagine the whole country coming alive as we announce a new national goal of alternative energy in every government building, with energy systems that were designed and built by Bahamians. Perhaps I am dreaming. But I think it’s time that we set national goals beyond tourism, sports and politics. It’s time we argued about something less vague than ‘reducing crime’.
With energy prices rising faster than the mercury in our thermometers this is the perfect time to encourage individuals to become more independent. Will B.E.C. lose that much money? Isn’t it overworked already? Besides, it exists to serve us. If it is inefficient or out-of-date it needs to adapt or die. For too long we have suffered the effects of government monopolies that, with no incentive to improve, hold us hostage, forcing us to suffer terrible service and worse prices.
- Dsus Pays
Labels: alternative power, B.E.C., empowerment, National Responsibility
posted by Dsus at
12:00 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home