Sustainable development group Greenrock has criticised plans by Belco for two new power stations and three more smoke stacks at its Pembroke site.

The group says the energy company is not doing enough to install 'micro-technologies', such as solar water heating panels and wind turbines, and is calling for a comprehensive Energy Plan for Bermuda.

A Greenrock spokesman said yesterday: "The new proposal by Belco to build more smoke stacks does nothing to change Bermuda's energy landscape in a positive, environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

"This plan is nothing more than a commercial response by the country's only energy supplier to the fact that it will be unable to meet the Island's energy needs come 2011.

"Greenrock recommends that an independent commission supported by both Government and Belco be appointed as a matter of urgency with a mandate to propose a comprehensive Energy Plan which will provide creative and sustainable solutions to the Island's energy needs.

"Greenrock has always advocated the importance of sustainability and this truly starts at home. Right now Greenrock is supporting a project to introduce wind turbine technologies into Bermuda that are working in other countries very successfully.

"These domestic wind turbines – which attach to your house like DirectTV dishes – can generate up to 2 to 5 kilowatts of power. This stored power is then automatically utilised by your home using a Grid Tie Converter to offset the power you would typically extract from your Belco feed.

"Plus, these units are also designed to provide power to commercial energy users or large estates requiring 15 kilowatts or higher. By allowing residences to generate their own power, they will become less dependent on Belco's power supply and release Belco's strained resources for other uses, thereby decreasing the strain on Belco's infrastructure.

"If wind turbines are successful, there could be a scenario where households could sell back excess power to Belco and receive energy credits.

"And in emergency situations, householders will be able to provide basic power to their home – even after a hurricane has disrupted the Island's main power supply."

Greenrock also wants Government to develop installation standards for micro-technologies, to encourage domestic take-up, and is calling for duty free imports and other tax breaks such as land tax.

Linda Smith, Belco spokeswoman, says the company has no other option than to build the two power stations over the next 23 years. She said yesterday: "There are no renewable options available to meet the demand for electricity by 2011. If there were we would incorporate them into our plans."

She said Belco is currently beta-testing alternative energy sources at a company house in Warwick and that the company revises its plans every three to five years "to take into account changes in circumstances, and specifically distributed generation facilities, which could be small traditional or combined-cycle installations at other locations and renewable energy".

Ms Smith said: "Belco has explored wind power and other alternatives to traditional fossil fuel plant, but to date, there are no practical alternatives that could supply Bermuda with consistent, large capacity electricity generating capabilities.

"In 2006, Belco signed an agreement with Current to Current Bermuda Limited to purchase power from them when their large capacity facilities become available. However, the ocean current technology will not be in place in time to ensure that the BELCO will be able to meet the 2011 demand."

For more information on micro-wind turbines, log onto: www.greenrock.org