The Government of Bermuda’s Department of Energy Director, Jeane Nikolai has been invited, as a guest, to speak on a panel at the 2018 Resilient Infrastructure Forum (RIF). The RIF takes place June 26 – 28, 2018 in the Dominican Republic.

The RIF brings together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to create a coordinated long-term strategy to combat the challenges faced by the Caribbean and its vulnerability to natural disasters. Ms. Nikolai, along with 40 other speakers including Ministers, officials, agencies and directors – one being Dr. Devon Gardener, the Caricom Secretariat for Energy – will host plenary sessions to address proposed plans and projects for the development of resilient infrastructure within the key sectors in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The Director said she is encouraged by the opportunity to lend her knowledge to this cause saying, “It’s a great opportunity for us to participate in trying to find solutions in response to one of the region’s biggest threats- hurricanes, and their increasing severity and frequency due to climate change.”

This invitation comes following the successful, two-step process taken to establish the 6 Megawatt Solar Power Project to be developed on St. David’s Island.

The public will recall that the Solar Power Project agreement was recently signed by the Minister of Transport and Regulatory Affairs, Walter Roban and the Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. David Burch.

This will usher in a new era of sustainable energy in Bermuda by stabilizing a small part of every rate payer’s electricity bill by replacing fuel costs with solar energy. Because of the signing of this agreement, Bermuda was flagged as a leader in new energy technologies and Ms. Nikolai was invited to contribute her recommendations and expertise at the RIF at very little cost to the Department and Ministry of Transport and Regulatory Affairs.

The Ministry is in full support of the innovative strides Ms. Nikolai has made within the Department of Energy and is encouraged by the future of sustainable technologies in Bermuda.

• Press release from the Bermuda Government