Residents, businesses and schools affected by pollution from Belco have been invited to a community meeting to address concerns about emissions from the plant and discuss solutions.

The Bermuda Clean Air Coalition, a pressure group launched in 2020 to address pollution associated with the North Power Station, is hosting the meeting at The Berkeley Institute cafetorium on October 26 from 6pm to 8pm.

A flyer, shared with The Royal Gazette, says: “All residents impacted by Belco pollution — area schools’ staff and parents, business owners and employees, and anyone interested in our island’s environment are invited to attend. Volunteers are needed.”

Belco has spent millions of dollars mitigating pollution from the North Power Station since it was commissioned in 2020. Wayne Caines, the company president, said the problems stem from the station being configured for liquefied natural gas — a fuel that was never granted approval — yet burning heavy fuel oil.

Mitigation measures have included burning diesel — a cleaner but more expensive fuel — at times and installing new equipment. The company has also spent millions on painting property that has been showered with soot and cleaning out water tanks following soot fallout.

The BCAC flyer added: “Although Belco continues to try to mitigate the problems resulting from their air and water pollution, it is just not enough.

“It is a relentless loop of painting your roof, soot fallout, clean your tank, soot fallout, paint your car, soot fallout, repair your other property damage, soot fallout or vibrations, go to the doctor for medicine, toxic fumes, and on and on. It has to stop! The BCAC continues to fight for our lives and our property.

“We continue to seek support from the Bermuda Government in helping to resolve our issues and expect them to protect the people of Bermuda.”

The BCAC said it will be discussing “next steps” at the meeting and invited those who suffer a significant impact from pollution from Belco to send in a statement describing their experience.

It added: “We will add your experience to our documentation of community concerns.”

Those wishing to send a statement should e-mail bdacleanaircoalition@gmail.com, and call or leave a voice message on 533-1913.

Anyone seeking more information can call 333-9330 on WhatsApp.