The Very Reverend Vernon Scott,JP., rector and dean of Manchester, sprinkles holy water, while Prime Minister P.J Patterson cuts the ribbon to officially open the Wigton Windfarm in Manchester on Thursday.
-Ian Allen photo
Lisa A McKay, Gleaner Writer
PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson officially opened The Wigton Windfarm in Manchester on Thursday. The windfarm has been constructed with 23 wind turbines which require no imported fuel to operate, just natural wind. The project is part of providing the Jamaica energy sector with renewable energy resources; and diversification of Jamaica's energy mix and utilisation of sustainable energy resources.
According to the Prime Minister, Wigton Windfarm is one of the "most efficient windfarm construction anywhere in the world".
The project reportedly cost US$26 million and is going to add 20.7 mega watts (MW) of energy to the national electricity grid to bring total installed capacity to 800 MW. Mr. Patterson addres-sed concerns by residents that since the erection of the turbines, the village has become very 'hot' as the farm is using up all the breeze. He assured them that all the experts confirm that the project is environmentally friendly and will not deplete the abundance of wind.
The Prime Minister reported that Jamaica continued to pursue the possibility of a liquefield natural gas (LNG) project with Trinidad and Tobago, and that the Govern-ment was considering incentives to encourage the use of more efficient diesel-engined vehicles. "We aim at moving from the present 16.8 per cent of diesel vehicle population to 25 per cent by the end of 2005, and 35 per cent by 2008," he said.
The Government has also approved the phasing-out of MTBE as the octane enhancer in gasoline and replacing it with ethanol, which may be produced from locally-grown sugar cane, Mr. Patterson disclosed. He added that the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and the Airport Authority of Jamaica have begun talks aimed at making the Norman Manley Airport Terminal in Kingston a model of energy efficiency. "The new extension to the airport should be designed to be the most energy- efficient building in Jamaica as well as globally", Mr. Patterson said.
