'Green' jobs are seen as source of future growth

FRIDAY, JULY 22: Green energy has been highlighted as a potential source of jobs and business opportunities for Bermudians as the island responds to the recession.

Minister Walter Roban introduced a White Paper to the House of Assembly on Friday setting out goals to radically reduce the island’s reliance on foreign oil.

And green campaigners hope the talk will lead to clear action and a slew of new business opportunities in the energy sector.

Greenrock has highlighted vehicle recycling, organic food co-operatives and green home and office consulting among a series of areas of opportunity for local entrepreneurs.

Alternative transport solutions, such as electronic bikes, water conservation and new approaches to energy production, including solar and wind power, also present business opportunities.

Andrew Vaucrosson, president of Greenrock, said the island needed to get back to its roots as energy innovators.

“We were leaders with septic tanks, catchment roofs and even composting. 

“However, as a result of our fascination with modern lifestyles more common in US urban centres, we have moved away from innovation and have tried to adopt lifestyles that are not sustainable on an island with limited water supply and high cost of energy and space.

“We can look at strategies and ideas from other countries and then adopt them for island life. 

“We need start taking a future perspective on where we would like Bermuda to be in 25 to 50 years and start laying the groundwork today.”

He said Government’s White Paper addressed some of the issues but did not set out a clear framework on how its ideas would be implemented.

Stick and carrot

He believes Bermudian consumers and potential businessmen need to see a clear vision of how the ideas will be turned into action before they can commit to the industry.

Government incentives including ‘stick and carrot’ policies to encourage green living (recycling for example) would help make environmental start-ups profitable and ensure its own goals were met.

He also urged policymakers to provide a clear and co-ordinated process to allow energy start-ups to apply for financial support and a structure that was immune to changes in Government.

He said the energy sector had the potential to create jobs that most people could do, with some training, making them viable options for locals who had lost work in other areas.

He said construction and maintenance would be part of the picture for large scale renewable energy products but a concerted national focus on green energy would allow a variety of new job types to emerge.

“On the micro-renewable scale for homes and commercial properties, this will allow for new trades-people to emerge who have combined skills like carpentry, masonry, electrical and plumbing. 

“And if you look at energy from a dynamic perspective, when you start to include fuel, transportation and building, the number of jobs created or new skills developed expands.”

Special report: Bermuda in recession

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• 'Green' jobs are seen as source of future growth
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