NEW YORK—Turks & Caicos has deepened its commitment to advancing renewable energy by joining the Carbon War Room’s Ten Island Challenge. The Premier of Turks and Caicos, The Honorable Doctor Rufus Ewing, and Carbon War Room’s Operations Director, Justin Locke, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to work together to reduce the island’s dependence on fossil fuels through increased renewable energy production and improved energy efficiency.
The Ten Island Challenge provides the Government of TCI the opportunity and platform to define and realize its own vision of a clean economy. In order to achieve this vision, the Carbon War Room, a global nonprofit founded by Sir Richard Branson, and Rocky Mountain Institute will provide a range of technical, project management, communications, and business advisory support services.
“With the addition of Turks & Caicos, the Ten Island Challenge continues to expand its efforts to transform Caribbean economies and help the region achieve independence from fossil fuels,” said Sir Richard Branson, Co-Founder of Carbon War Room.
Very High Electricity Rates
The Ten Island Challenge works to accelerate the transition of Caribbean island economies from a heavy dependence on fossil fuels to renewable resources. Caribbean economies suffer from some of the highest electricity prices in the world—contributing to their national debts, and slowing efforts toward sustainable development. Despite an abundance of sun and wind, Caribbean islands have implemented relatively low amounts of renewables to date. The Ten Island Challenge, with partners Carbon War Room and Rocky Mountain Institute, is tackling this by identifying the technical and commercial solutions that can facilitate low-carbon energy use in the Caribbean.
In 2013, Sir Richard Branson committed his home of Necker Island, British Virgin Islands to serve as a “demo” island in the Challenge, and, in February of this year, U.S. energy giant NRG Energy was awarded the contract to transition the island to renewables.
A press conference was held recently with the Premier of Turks and Caicos, The Honorable Doctor Rufus Ewing, and Carbon War Room’s Director of Islands, Justin Locke. The MOU signing builds on a commitment made by the Governor of Turks and Caicos, Peter Beckingham, at the Creating Climate Wealth Islands Summit in February 2014, when Turks & Caicos expressed interest in joining the Challenge.
Go to the Carbon War Room and Rocky Mountain Institute.
