VZCZCXRO0593
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #0465/01 2112029
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 302029Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7643
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 000465 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USTDA FOR NATHAN YOUNGE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EINV PREL XL
SUBJECT: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SSI SPEAKER FOSTERS DEBATE IN 
EASTERN CARIBBEAN 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (U) The Strategic Speaker Initiative brought solar power 
expert JF Scarborough to Barbados, Grenada and Dominica to 
talk about alternative energy.  This timely topic attracted 
surprisingly large crowds and fostered vigorous debate within 
the countries on the best way to manage future alternative 
energy projects.  The speaker stressed that, while reducing 
reliance on foreign fuels and reducing carbon emissions are 
important, local job creation is the top priority for many 
countries looking at alternative energy projects.  Local 
ownership of any project is critical to ensure its 
sustainability, especially in the face of both fluctuations 
in the price of oil and the premium that the public, the 
government, and the vulnerable island tourism sectors place 
on climate change impacts. 
 
-------- 
Barbados 
-------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Scarborough had productive meetings with the 
Ministry of Energy and a private alternative energy 
engineering firm, and participated in a radio talk show 
program before delivering a formal lecture at the University 
of West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus.  The lecture, which 
was held in partnership with UWI contacts, drew an audience 
of 55 people from the professional engineering community, the 
government, the Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC) and 
the university community.  Scarborough also appeared on 
Barbados' leading morning talk radio show, "Brass Tacks." 
Responding to a caller who asked why the USG is pushing 
alternative energy when the USG has been neglecting 
alternative energy development and is behind the rest of the 
world in applying the technology, Scarborough acknowledged 
that the Federal Government is newly engaged in the issue, 
but pointed out that on the State level, the U.S. is leading 
the world in adopting new energy technologies. 
 
------- 
Grenada 
------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Scarborough met with officials from the Energy Office 
in the Ministry of Finance, exchanging information on what 
Grenada is seeking to do with regard to both energy 
conservation and in identifying appropriate forms of 
alternative energy.  Grenada is only just starting to look at 
what its energy policy should be and plans to begin public 
consultations on a draft plan on July 28.  On July 9, 
Scarborough gave his presentation on energy alternatives to 
an audience made up of around 40 government officials as well 
as representatives from local contracting companies, 
electricity companies and non-governmental organizations.  He 
engaged the group in lively debate about site-appropriate 
types of energy projects Grenada could benefit from.  Local 
media covered the program.  In addition, Scarborough and 
representatives from the Energy Office appeared on Grenada 
Broadcast Network's morning show and were interviewed for 
later broadcast by the Government Information Service. 
 
-------- 
Dominica 
-------- 
 
¶4.  (U) In Dominica the U.S. Embassy partnered with DOMLEC, 
the majority U.S.-owned electrical utility, in order to 
portray a realistic view of the opportunities and obstacles 
facing alternative energy production.  On July 11th, 
Scarborough spoke to an audience of approximately 45 hotel 
owners, government regulators, Ministry of Energy 
representatives, and DOMLEC employees.  Local critics 
frequently attack DOMLEC for its lack of alternative energy 
projects and rapacious tariffs.  Scarborough's lecture and 
Q&A provided a more balanced approach to alternative energy 
and gave DOMLEC representatives the opportunity to confront 
their critics and get the message out about future 
developments and the obstacles confronting them. 
Scarborough's message of sustainablility and local 
empowerment resonated with the crowd of environmentally 
friendly hoteliers, who are passionate about promoting the 
'Nature Isle' message about Dominica. The entire presentation 
was recorded by Marpin TV station for later broadcast. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
 
BRIDGETOWN 00000465  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5.  (U)  All of the events drew a wide cross section of 
participants from the government, utilities, universities, 
and those in involved in tourism -- in many cases, some of 
the largest crowds we have attracted for such programs in the 
region.  This allowed for a spirited discussion on the role 
of renewable energy in the economy and the best way to move 
forward, and highlighted the elevated level of interest in 
alternative energy possibilities throughout the region. 
Private meetings with Ministries and utilities also promoted 
a more balanced approach toward development plans.  This 
speaker series added to the expanding chorus of information 
about alternative energy and thoughtfully injected the ideas 
of sustainable development and local ownership into the 
ongoing discussion. 
HARDT