The Minister of Home Affairs is to speak about Bermuda’s “integrated approach to energy reform” at a big conference on renewable energy in Florida next month.

Alexa Lightbourne was invited to make a presentation at the 17th Annual Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum, which will run from May 7 to 9 in Miami.

The CREF said its forum is the “largest gathering of the regional energy market on the annual calendar”, with more than 25 Caribbean nations represented by their governments, utilities and regulators.

The event is expected to attract 500-plus attendees spanning more than 40 countries.

Ms Lightbourne’s remarks will highlight the implementation of Bermuda’s clean energy strategies and transition planning, as well as legislative and regulatory frameworks designed to accelerate renewable integration.

She will also speak about community-driven models for sustainability, affordability and resilience, and the role of equitable energy access in climate adaptation.

Ms Lightbourne said: “This forum provides an invaluable opportunity for Bermuda to contribute to and learn from regional counterparts as we strengthen our path towards a just energy transition, one that balances innovation with inclusion.”

She will be a featured speaker in the CREF Ministerial: Diverse Pathways to Energy Transition in the Caribbean panel, moderated by David Gumbs, the director of the Rocky Mountain Institute’s islands energy programme.

The CREF said its forum is unique in terms of its “size and the seniority and breadth of its participants”.

It added: “Simply put, the conference represents the market, the full ecosystem of stakeholders.”

There are several topics driving this year’s forum including energy independence in a time of geopolitical uncertainty; future-focused utilities including renewables capacity, battery storage and capital expenditure strategy; attracting and effectively deploying impact investment; addressing regulatory, operational and financial barriers; and national energy strategies.

The forum opens with an interactive workshop hosted by the World Bank titled Unlocking the Caribbean’s Renewable Energy Potential.

Bermuda earlier committed to achieving 85 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035.

Belco’s submission to the Integrated Resource Plan proposing Bermuda’s future energy mix is under review by the Regulatory Authority.

The IRP’s preferred portfolio aims to achieves an 82 per cent carbon emissions reduction by 2043 and includes near-term investments in solar, storage and offshore wind.

It also proposes future investment in liquefied natural gas.

The IRP said: “LNG is another fuel that has been assessed in this IRP proposal. For this fuel case, LNG would be produced in the United States and shipped to Bermuda …

“The earliest full conversion or upgrades for the engines would be in 2028.”