Premier Alex Scott started a new engine at Belco yesterday during the opening of their east power station.

However, these was a tense eight minutes when the giant 14.5 megawatt diesel built by MAN B&W of Germany failed to start as the east power station represents an investment of $153 million over a 22 year period.

?We know it does work,? Belco?s President and CEO Garry Madeiros said yesterday. ?It has been working before.?

Premier Alex Scott said when he went he attended Berkeley Institute in 1951 he could hardly hear his teachers speak from all the noise at Belco.

?I grew up with Belco,? Premier Scott said. ?I arrived at Berkley and couldn?t hear the teacher?s speak because of the awesome hum coming from Belco.?

He said over the years, Belco has grown and grown, yet is now more quiet than it was in 1951. The Premier congratulated Belco on their vision and hard work.

?We may never be able to appreciate the challenges needed to be overcome to be here today,? Mr. Scott said. ?Success comes only after setbacks.?

He said Belco?s new plant was an achievement for the whole of Bermuda.

?The ambient air quality is not going to be compromised,? he said. ?I encourage Belco to continue to grow to meet the demands of an appreciate community.?

Bermuda?s economic success was because of companies like Belco, he said who were responsible corporate entities who were able to be profitable as well as be environmentally savvy.

?I am truly proud of this noisy place that has grown so well,? Mr. Scott said. ?This station now contributes 104 megawatts of the 180 megawatts of power production capability we have here at the Belco site.?

Each engine building is soundproofed and lessens engine noise in the surrounding area.

The giant engines are mounted on ?resilient spring foundations? which dampen sound vibrations. They are also more fuel efficient.

In 1984 Belco was generating 525 kilowatt hours per barrel of fuel, but is 690 in 2005, a 31 percent in fuel efficiency, he said.

The power plant was challenging to build because a confined site layout, in particular, a lack of open space within the plant for which to lay down materials and equipment.

?This power station is about as close as you can get to Cemetery Road without being in the road,? he said.

The radiator systems had to be mounted on the top of the building.

With this addition Belco developed the last piece of open land on their 23 acre Pembroke property.

?As we stand here today, our projections indicate that Bermuda?s demand for electricity could require investment of an additional generating plant by 2008,? Mr. Madeiros said.

?So, we are once again considering all of the options including renewable energy in the form of off-shore wind generation and distributed generation which would include power plant development beyond our current location.?