Nevis aims to become “greenest island on Earth” by 2018

Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 January 2015, 21:16 by GxMedia

San Juan, Jan 27 (EFE).- Nevis is preparing to become “the greenest island on Earth” by 2018, when the government expects to meet its energy needs entirely from renewable resources, the CEO of the island’s tourism authority said here Tuesday.

Greg Phillip is currently in San Juan with a delegation of officials and hotel and airline representatives to promote Nevis’ attractions.

He pointed to several renewable energy projects – a solar power station, wind farm and a geothermal plant – intended to produce electricity for more than 12,000 residents.

Nevis expects eventually to sell surplus energy to St. Kitts, its partner in the twin-island federal state, and to other Caribbean islands, Phillip said.

Determined to become a destination for “sustainable tourism,” Nevis is on track to achieve 100 percent energy from renewables by 2018, when the geothermal plant is supposed to begin operating, Phillip said.

The St. Kitts and Nevis government is currently building a second solar farm with the aim of reducing the Caribbean nation’s dependence on fossil fuel.

The first solar farm was commissioned in September 2013 and now generates electricity for Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.