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Greenrock is pleased to recognize another milestone with the first initial contact with the world renown environmental organization Greenpeace UK.
We look forward to the beginning of a successful and impactful collaboration!
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The Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban celebrates Bermuda’s partnership with MIT in the release of Bermuda beeswax as part of an initiative with their space programme.
A Government spokesperson said, “MIT Media Lab and the Ministry have a relationship through the participation of Dr. Danielle Wood, who leads the Space Enabled group, whose mission statement is “Advancing justice in Earth’s complex systems using designs enabled by space.
“Dr. Wood approached the Ministry late last year to see if she could get a quantity of Bermuda beeswax to use in her exciting work.
“It is beautifully suited to that purpose. It is stable [doesn’t combust easily], but it’s a hydrocarbon so it burns well, providing just enough energy to reposition a small satellite.
“Why Bermuda beeswax? Because ours is a low-pollution environment, comparatively speaking, and the group wants to see how differently sourced beeswax works in practical terms when burned, and our beeswax tends not to come from a single cultivar [like a field of clover or other crop], and the varieties of pollen the bees use could also have an impact on how the beeswax performs.
“According to Professor Danielle Wood of the Space Enabled team, she and Dr. Javier Stober of the Space Enabled Research Group at the MIT Media Lab are looking forward to receiving beeswax from Bermuda as part of a long term research project to study the potential of wax-based ingredients to create fuel for satellites orbiting around the Earth.
“The MIT team is thankful to the generosity of the team in Bermuda which is allowing the research to explore how beeswax from different regions and flowers may behave differently as a potential fuel.
“The satellite industry needs new options for low-cost, non-toxic fuels that are drawn from renewable ingredients. Beeswax from Bermuda may contribute to understanding next generation designs to help foster sustainability on Earth and in Space.”
“It didn’t hurt that Minister Roban is himself a beekeeper- so he was of course the most enthusiastic. Minister Roban celebrated the relationship between Bermuda and MIT, and applauds Professor Danielle Wood and her team for their hard work.”
Minster Roban stated, “We at the Ministry of Home Affairs are extremely proud of the work undertaken by Professor Wood and the entire programme at MIT. This initiative has put Bermuda’s beeswax on the map. We look forward to seeing the flight on May 20th, where Bermuda’s beeswax will be burned.
“I want to especially thank the Beekeeping Association who contributed the consignment of beeswax, Mr. Tommy Sinclair, Principal Agriculture Officer with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who was instrumental in getting the beeswax on its way to MIT, Mr. Lewell Woolridge Jr, and Mr. Albert Swan. The Ministry of Home Affairs is grateful for all of their contributions and hard work toward making this project a success.”
Original Bernews Link: https://bernews.com/2021/05/bermuda-beeswax-gets-international-launch/
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Bermuda Electric Light Company has one primary objective: to supply our customers with safe, reliable and affordable electricity.
Our ultimate goal is to become a renewable energy company and we are working steadily towards that. My personal commitment to the people of Bermuda — our valued customers — is honest and transparent communication.
One of my personal goals upon being appointed president of Belco was to enhance our community engagement — through meeting with the residents in our local neighbourhoods, to town hall meetings, to online webinars and community outreach.
I believe we can all agree that for too long we have been reliant on imported fossil fuels. Pricing on these fuels can fluctuate wildly owing to global supply and demand, but, perhaps most importantly, the burning of these fuels impacts our environment and creates issues for our neighbours.
The cost of electricity is a burdensome expense for many Bermudians, which means we, Belco, must continuously look for ways to generate and deliver reliable service in a more cost-effective manner.
No one wants a fossil fuel power plant in their backyard, but with Bermuda’s limited landmass, the only short-term option was to build a generation plant, while the long-term strategy calls for a big change to a renewable energy future.
A culture of change is what we are implementing in our company. We are committed to a sustainable future; a renewable future. A reliable energy future at an affordable price for the power that sustains our way of life.
Between that future and now, there are undeniable realities we face. Facts we as a community must face together — and work together — to create sustainable and affordable solutions for a future we all desire and deserve.
Belco has been operating the North Power Station for about a year. Yes, there were, and remain, some teething problems, but we have made significant progress and continue to work to run the plant at optimal efficiency and improving emissions. It is the last fossil-fuelled plant Belco will ever build.
Until we have researched, financed, built and integrated large-scale renewable energy sources — be it wind, solar, biomass or some combination — we must continue to run our power plant to supply Bermuda’s base load of energy. Residents rely on it, as do our hospitals, tourism industry, international business, schools and telecommunications — everything that requires a reliable source of electricity.
There has been recently some confusion concerning Belco’s rates and the order issued by the Regulatory Authority last Sunday that the retail tariff — the base rate that customers pay for electricity — would be reduced.
In the spirit of transparency, outlining the make-up of Belco bills will assist in illustrating where we are and what the future may hold as far as the price of electricity for our customers.
The base rate is simply the cost of building, operating and maintaining the infrastructure used to produce, transmit and deliver electricity to the homes and businesses across our island.
This amount is billed monthly and is segregated into variable and fixed charges. For residential and small commercial customers, the variable charges are outlined as Billing Charges on your bill and there is an inclining rate block structure, meaning the less you use, the lower the price.
For residential customers, the fixed component, listed as Facilities Charge, is based on each customer’s average daily kilowatt-hour consumption over the previous 12-month period, which is reassessed monthly to reflect an Annual Rolling Daily Average.
The Fuel Adjustment Rate reflects the total cost to deliver fuel to Belco’s central plant and comprises two parts — the actual delivered cost of fuel and Bermuda Government taxes. The fuel cost is based on the total purchase cost of fuel and includes shipping cost, supplier profit margin, local receipt, handling, storage and transport via pipeline from Ferry Reach in St George’s to the Belco Central Plant in Pembroke.
Belco uses Heavy Fuel Oil and No 2 diesel to power its engines to produce electricity. Both of these are refined fuels, which are not directly linked to crude oil prices. Consequently, they will not exhibit the same price behaviour as crude oil. However, as the price of crude increases, so, too, does the price of refined fuels.
The second part of the FAR comprises two separate government taxes. At present, the Government charges $31.79 per barrel of fuel in addition to a tax of $0.40 per barrel of fuel to fund the St George’s Unesco World Heritage Site.
Once the total cost of fuel is determined, the fuel adjustment charge is calculated by multiplying the FAR with a consumer’s total kWh energy usage.
Because of the potential volatility in fuel prices, the FAR is calculated quarterly and rises and falls as the purchase price of Belco’s fuel rises and falls. The quarterly adjustment in the FAR is published by the Regulatory Authority and is reflected on customers’ bills in the next billing cycle.
During the past six months, the price of oil has steadily increased from a low of approximately $35.50 to almost $70.00 today, or a 100 per cent increase. Consequently, refined fuels are also more expensive.
As a result of this increase in price, it is very likely the FAR will increase in the coming months. This increase will mostly offset the Retail Tariff reduction that comes into effect on June 1. The FAR is a cost-recovery mechanism, which means Belco bills only the actual cost of fuel — no profit or mark-up.
We are acutely aware that Bermudians have been suffering financially, socially and emotionally as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns and economic turmoil. At Belco, we pledged to do our part to assist and bring financial relief to our customers by continuing to work with the Regulatory Authority.
To clarify misinformation in the public domain, an average residential customer consuming 600kWh in December 2019 would have paid $163.33 in base electricity rates, $63.00 in fuel adjustment, inclusive of government taxes on fuel, and $2.85 in Regulatory Authority fees. The gross total for that consumer would have been $229.18.
The same average residential consumer (600kWh) in June 2021 will pay $143.72 in base electricity rates, $74.22 in fuel adjustment, inclusive of government taxes on fuel, and $3.81 in Regulatory Authority fees. The gross total for the consumer is $221.75.
With the recent increase in the RA fee, implemented in April, and the shift in a portion of fuel charges from base rates to the FAR, as mandated by the RA, the overall impact to the consumer is a 3.2 per cent reduction or savings of $7.43/month (approximately $89 per year).
The comparisons above are to prices from almost a year and a half ago. The realities of today are most customers will see a modest decrease in their bills in June and then likely see increases in the FAR the very next month.
Belco, alongside myself, commits to the people of Bermuda to be honest and transparent.
I am humbled and honoured to work with the exceptional team at Belco who work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep the lights on. I thank them for their dedicated service.
I look forward to continuing our community outreach and providing progress reports as we work to become a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy utility, and to energise the future prosperity of Bermuda.
• Wayne Caines is writing in his capacity as the president of Belco
Original RG Link: https://www.royalgazette.com/opinion-writer/opinion/article/20210521/energising-for-future-prosperity/
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The Regulatory Authority announced that it has reduced the Retail Tariff for the second year in a row, and has lifted the moratorium to “allow 5G technology to be deployed in Bermuda.” A spokesperson said, “The Regulatory Authority [the RA] is mandated by law to:
- promote and preserve competition in Bermuda;
- promote the development of the local economy; and
- promote innovation in the sectors it regulates.
“As such, the RA is pleased to announce the status updates to three initiatives in the Electricity and Electronic Communications sectors: Electricity Sector:
- “The RA reduces the Retail Tariff for the second year in a row. With a focus on providing relief to consumers due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Retail Tariff [“RT”] has been reduced. The RT is the rate at which electricity per kilowatt hour is sold to a consumer and is reflected on a BELCO bill as the ‘Usage Charge’. Electronic Communications Sector.
- “RA lifts the moratorium on 5G. After an extensive review process, the RA’s Board of Commissioners has lifted the moratorium to allow 5G technology to be deployed in Bermuda. This decision is based on the compelling benefits that consumers and local and international businesses will reap – such as enhanced mobility, connectivity, reliability, and security, and includes strict safety measures and adherence to Appropriate Safety Standards as referenced by several International Standards bodies.
- “Communications licences were issued to three new providers in the Electronic Communications sector. Increased competition typically benefits consumers through greater product variety, lower prices, and higher quality services.
“For more information, visit www.ra.bm.”
Original BerNews Link: https://bernews.com/2021/05/ra-reduces-retail-tariff-lifts-5g-moratorium/
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Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, and Earth Day 2024 will occur on Monday, April 22, the holiday's 54th anniversary. The holiday is now a global celebration, sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on environmental action and sustainable living.
Celebrate Earth Day with a challenge that makes everyone a winner!
We took the Earth Day theme “Invest in Your Planet”, and turned it into “Invest in Your Parish” – a new, interactive photo challenge. Now it’s a race to see which parish will commit to the most environmental actions from Saturday, April 20th to Monday, April 22nd. We’ve teamed up with Hink so you can share high-resolution photos of friends, family, and colleagues as they take part in their Earth Day Challenge commitments, from planting trees to cleaning up the coast, from going on a nature walk to using your cycle or zero-emission vehicles. There are 13 actions – choose one, or challenge yourself to complete them all!
Which parish will secure the top spot in the 2024 Bermuda Earth Day Challenge? The choice is yours! Download Hink from the App Store or Google Play and “Invest in Your Parish” in high resolution!
What is the Earth Day Challenge?
To participate, first, Register Today! and then commit to as many of the following activities as possible to help your parish secure the top spot!
Instructions for The New Earth Day Interactive Photo Challenge are listed below
- Reduce energy consumption
- Cook your meals at home
- Remember to recycle
- Spend time outdoors
- Clean up the coast
- Buy local produce and seafood
- Go plastic free
- Plant a few trees
- Go for a nature walk
- Do some gardening at home
- Ride your cycle or use zero emission vehicles
- Go meatless for the day
- Pick up waste in your area
Sign Up Today!
We've partnered with Hink to create a NEW Interactive Photo Challenge
Share your best photos of friends, family, or work colleagues taking environmental action on Hink and help your parish secure the top spot in the Earth Day Challenge 2024!
Amateurs, professionals and smartphone photographers are all invited to participate.
The rules are simple.
Download Hink and create an account (takes about thirty seconds)
Make sure you have not disabled the location on your camera app. Click here if you need help doing that.
If you are using a digital camera sign up here to get a link to the web uploader where you can also set the location from where you took the photos.
Take great photos of friends, family, or work colleagues taking environmental action. An image should have at least one person in the frame to be eligible. Be creative and try to capture the person actively engaged! Be sure to upload your photos before midnight on Monday, April 22nd to participate.
Download any photos on the app and share them on your social media platforms. Read here for more information on how Hink works.
A team of three (3) preselected volunteers will monitor the interactive Earth Day Challenge site map and tally up the relevant photos of individual actions uploaded to Hink in each parish. The parish with the highest number of individual environmental actions posted on the interactive map will win. The winning Parish Council will receive assistance from the participating environmental organizations with an environmental initiative or help them solve an environmental challenge in their parish.
Please remember, Hink is in the early stages of development and we love feedback. If you need help or have suggestions, contact us at support@hink.me.
We all know that people always want great shots of themselves, so let’s take some amazing photos on Earth Day!
Call us at 441.747.7625 for more information or to discuss how you can get involved.
Earth Day Activities
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
Sustainable Farming Workshop
Join us for a walking tour of FoodForest. An ecological microsystem of biological sustainability that incorporates several varieties of fruits, vegetables, roots, berries, and nuts. Learn how regenerative agriculture is the only alternative to the fragile micro system our communities depend on. This educational experience is free for Greenrock members. Fresh, organic vegetables will be for sale.
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Greenrock
Every little bit counts when it comes to a charity like Greenrock!
Donations help us fund the day-to-day operations of the organisation, allowing us to maintain our existing programmes while exploring new programmes for the future.
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