Guyana should transition to renewable energy

Dear Editor,
Nations around the globe are transitioning to clean, renewable (green) energy to reduce the greenhouse effect that causes climate change (global warming) that threatens Guyana’s coast and survival.
Hydrocarbons (oil and gas) and coal and wood used in the production of electricity would not be completely eliminated, thus Guyana must continue to produce oil; and at any rate, the amount of oil Guyana produces is relatively insignificant in the global market, but significant for revenues to fuel Guyana’s development.
Guyana has a narrow window to exploit production of its oil and gas (20 to 30 years), and should take advantage of it, but also take measures to mitigate the greenhouse effect.
While developing the oil sector and increasing production of oil for revenues to grow the economy, Guyana must transition towards a green economy (less use of hydrocarbons). Guyana has an abundance of natural habitat (wind, solar) and resources (swift moving water and waterfalls) for green energy (sustainable electricity generation without harmful effects to the environment) to power industries and development of the country.
On this note, Vice President Jagdeo is commended for pursuing hydro-electric dam (Amaila) and gas-to-shore project to generate electricity (gas produces less pollution than diesel, with less effect on global warming), and for supporting solar and wind generation of power.
The globe desperately needs a movement away from hydrocarbons (and burning wood and coal) to generate energy because of the lasting effect on climate. Renewable energy substitutes are available, but it will take a cultural transformation to get nations and people to turn to solar and wind and other non-hydrocarbon-generated energy. Non-hydrocarbon-generated power is also very costly compared with oil and gas or coal and wood; but, with improved technology for green energy generation, cost will come down, making it affordable for even poorer countries like Guyana.
As more and more countries are turning to green energy to reduce use of hydrocarbon, whose pollution has devastating effects on climate change, Guyana should learn from them and seek their technology. India, USA, Canada and several European countries have been pioneering green technologies to move towards non-fossil fuels.
Indian technology may be less expensive than those of other countries, and more suitable for Guyana than others. India also has several hydro-electric dams. India is gradually perfecting green technology. More and more companies that are green technology-related are moving to India to produce equipment for solar and wind generation, and production of batteries for storage of energy.
India can deliver the green technology Guyana needs. There is great scope for green collaboration between Guyana and India, thus Guyana should hitch wagon to India’s green technology (solar, wind, hydro). Such an alliance would boost green growth in Guyana, and it may expand throughout the region.
Guyana has obtained a lot of funding from Norway to protect the rainforests. The money should be invested into generating green energy. Guyana’s oil will not last forever. Government should seek to make Guyana a self-sustainable producer of green energy. The country must not rely on hydrocarbons for energy, or to power development; alternatives must be pursued. Towards this end, people should be encouraged to mount solar panels and wind wheels to generate their energy.
Government should offer grants from the Norway fund to help people make a transition from the power grid to developing their own electricity generation. Surplus energy generated could be sold to the national grid. Technology exists to use electricity from power grids and to inject surplus electricity into the grid. In the US, homeowners and farmers are encouraged to generate clean, green energy, the surplus of which is sold to the electric company.
Several Guyanese in Florida, Minnesota, Upstate New York, among places, are earning revenues or having zero electricity bills from solar production of power. Some related that their electric bills are almost zero, or the company owes them revenues which are kept as a credit for future use. Generating green electricity at home or on the farm becomes a kind of business (generating an income), while also making them conscious of protecting the environment from further pollutants that cause global warming.
It can also be done in Guyana with education. People must be educated that burning clean energy also reduces effects on health. Government must make every effort to convince the public to use less power from the national grid, and to generate their own electricity. As an aside, Government must provide incentives (like a subsidy).
The Vice President, some years ago, won the accolade “Champion of the Earth” for his LCDS initiative and advocacy of protecting the environment from greenhouse gas effects. He should lead the effort in Guyana; he is enormously popular, the public would heed his call to transition to green energy.

Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram