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Also, most, if not all port facilities in the Caribbean as well as developers, utilities and policymakers who
have significant limitations on the size and amount understand that renewable energy is intermittent.
of equipment they can handle. The volume of The existing electricity infrastructure needs to be
photovoltaic panels, but perhaps more importantly, maintained while more renewable energy is brought
the sheer size of wind towers, transformers, and online through large-scale installations, distributed
blades, being imported for a site can exceed the generation, microgrids, and energy storage. And,
limits of what many ports can accommodate. it is critically important to get the economics of
this transformation “right.” Otherwise, it becomes
SIMPLIFY PERMITTING a simple wealth transfer without meaningful or
Project permitting crosses the jurisdictional areas equitable advancement of creating aligned market
of overlapping ministries and parishes, including forces resulting in lasting change.
departments of energy, utilities, environment, and Accommodating and integrating more renewable
labor. Few countries boast of a “one-stop shop” to systems reliably, safely, and affordably requires
permit a project. Multiple government and regulatory due diligence and prudence to avoid electricity
offices are involved, each with their individual rate increases. It’s a long-term strategy requiring
timeframes and requirements that often overlap. cooperation between stable government policies,
Coordinating with several ministries to review, flexible utilities, competent regulatory bodies,
process and approve renewable site permits, designs thoughtful and well-informed electricity consumers,
and licenses adds more time, administration, and responsible investors, and credible development
expense to the projects. Streamlining procedures partners to design, develop and deliver renewable
would help improve efficiency immensely.
energy projects as promised.
CLARIFY INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS
Banks, investors, and multilateral organizations have ABOUT WRB ENERGY
universally-required mandates, terms, securities and
covenants that can be misunderstood in negotiations Robert Blenker
with governments, utilities and regulators. For is President and
example, the “waiver of sovereign immunity” is CEO of WRB
sometimes interpreted as an insult to Caribbean Energy. WRB
sovereignty, rather than seen as a standard Energy develops
commercial contracting convention. Again, the renewable energy
policies and processes need to be clearly defined and projects to help
as transparent as possible to avoid misunderstanding stabilize electricity
of project terms and requirements. prices and reduce
dependence on imported fuels to drive
INVEST IN SKILLED LABOR AND TRAINING economic growth and sustainability in Latin
In the Caribbean, there is limited (but growing) local America and the Caribbean. WRB Energy
renewable energy technical expertise and experience. manages the entire project lifecycle including
It’s difficult to find local EPC and O&M contractors to site selection, design, permitting, financing,
construct and oversee operations of a renewable site. construction and operation. WRB Energy’s
Bringing in contractors from other countries can be parent company, WRB Enterprises, has more
expensive. WRB Energy has invested substantially than a half-century of operational experience
in hiring and training local resources to develop in the energy, utilities and financial sectors.
For more information about WRB Energy,
and manage projects, relying on overseas technical please visit wrbenergy.com.
experts for only specialized or unique, one-off inputs.
HARNESS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE © 2021 WRB Energy. All rights reserved
We foresee a bright future for renewables in the
Caribbean. We believe in thoughtful, respectful
policy and regulatory reform based on facts and
economic analysis. We applaud nations that are
sharing and learning best practices from each other,

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