Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide an update to this Honourable House on the progress of the Solar Panel Installation Project on four (4) Government Buildings.
Mr. Speaker, in the Government’s 2017 election platform just over 5 years ago, this Administration pledged to and I quote - “Take the lead in investing in the Green Economy by outfitting Government buildings with renewable energy generation technologies, enabling the Government to become a net producer of energy”. I can assure this house today…promises made, promises kept.
Mr. Speaker, colleagues may recall in November 2020 I provided this Honourable House with details of the Roof Top Solar PV Systems installation project under the Government’s capital expenditure stimulus plan at a cost of Two Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-Nine dollars ($2,880,599.00).
As a reminder, this project encompasses the installation of roof-mounted solar panels on four key government buildings:
- The General Post Office Building,
- The Government Administration Building,
- The Department of Public Transportation facility in Devonshire; and,
- The Transport Control Department Building.
With physical work commencing in 2021, I am pleased to report that the project is advancing apace – with the first phase of this project now completed. The General Post Office and Government Administration Buildings solar panel systems were commissioned on 20 June 2022. The two building systems are operating together and solar produced is reported collectively.
Mr. Speaker, since the commissioning of the systems, between the months of July and November of this year, it has produced one hundred and five thousand, six hundred and seventy (105,670) Kilowatts of power resulting in approximately Forty-Two Thousand dollars ($42,000.00) worth of saving in electricity costs. This places the system on target to effect annual savings of $100,800 per the projections.
Mr. Speaker, the overall project is on schedule and is set to be completed within the third quarter of 2023. The second phase out of three (3) has now commenced – this being the installation of panels on the Department of Public Transportation facility at Fort Langton. The anticipated commissioning for this phase is April 2023 with the energy that is produced being used to charge the electric buses.
In this current climate of supply chain issues, extended production times and increasing costs of projects – I am pleased to report that we are on schedule and on budget thus far but note that these issues may affect both timing and costs as we move forward.
Mr. Speaker, building on the success of this project and in support of the Government’s strategy to utilise alternative energy, the Department of Public Lands and Buildings issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of solar PV systems on an additional thirty (30) Government buildings on Friday July 8th 2022.
The submission deadline for proposals was October 21st 2022. The Ministry received ten (10) responses. Currently, those responses are being evaluated in accordance with the Code of Practice for Project Management and Procurement. Mr. Speaker, as always I will keep this House informed of progress.
As my honourable colleagues on this side of the aisle have consistently reiterated, this Government delivers on its mandate as promised to the people of Bermuda in reducing the cost of Government while also encouraging the use of alternative energy.
Higher electric bills equates to a higher operating costs of running the Government. Higher cost of Government equates to higher taxes – and no one likes higher taxes.
Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, this project was forecasted to reduce the overall cost of utilities thus alleviating some of the burden on Government financials while also endeavouring to reduce our global carbon footprint. This is proof of that achievement and we will continue on this path to discover other means of reducing costs.
Thank you Mr. Speaker!