Jamaica announces goal for 50% renewable energy by 2030

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced yesterday his goal to reach 50% renewables by 2030, increasing Jamaica’s commitment to clean and sustainable energies.

“I have directed the government to increase our target from 30% to 50%”, the Prime Minister said, “and our energy company is totally in agreement. So I believe that by 2030, Jamaica will be producing more than 50% of its electricity from renewables.”

The announcement was made during the installation of a state-of-the-art solar PV system on the Prime Minister’s working government building. This project was in partnership with Solar Head of State, a nonprofit “seeking to help world leaders become green leaders by installing solar panels on government buildings”.

“We are focused on installing highly visible solar arrays on public buildings to draw greater attention to renewables”, said Solar Head of State Director James Ellsmoor, “Jamaica’s commitment to ushering in a new era of renewable energy is laudable.”

The country is turning the tide on its dependence on imported fossil fuels and historic lack of diversification of its energy sources. Like many Caribbean nations, the impacts of climate change and volatile costs of fossil fuels have made renewable clean energy sources the best -if not the only- option to build sustainable and resilient economies in the long-term.

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