Capital investments by FortisTCI (the Company) are boosting economic development and transforming the electricity infrastructure throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. Major investments were recently made on North Caicos and Grand Turk. Upcoming planned investments in utility-scale solar energy by way of a recently signed MOU with the Rocky Mountain Institute – Carbon War Room will also serve as a support for the development of renewable energy projects across several islands including Salt Cay and South Caicos.
On Grand Turk, $3.2 million dollars has been invested in necessary infrastructure upgrades at the energy plant in South Base. The project awarded through tender to local contractor Rolle Construction includes the demolition of an old building that formally served as a part of a U.S. Military Base. At the time, the demolition created at least 12 jobs that included training provided by a U.S. Company headquartered in Florida named EE&G Environmental Services, LLC. The training imparted knowledge and new skill sets on the handling and disposal of hazardous material to all persons assigned to the project. Phase two includes the construction of a new multipurpose building to house a workshop, personnel offices, and storage space, and is expected to employ up to approximately 20 persons during construction. Work will begin on August 1, 2016.
Investments on North Caicos totalling nearly $1 Million for a substation, generation, and related infrastructure project, will help to increase reliability to customers in North and Middle Caicos. The project was completed in July 2016 by local contractors Charlie’s Construction responsible for the civil works, and TC Industrial responsible for all Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) work.
Other upcoming projects include the relocation of the submarine transmission cable at Heaving Down Rock in Providenciales and the introduction of 1 Mega Watt (MW) worth of utility-scale solar energy installed across the FortisTCI service territory.
President and CEO of FortisTCI Eddinton Powell said, “Investments such as these are critical to the development of a world-class electricity service across the Turks and Caicos Islands. The North Caicos substation and generation project, together with the relocation and upgrade of the submarine transmission cable [which is currently susceptible to frequent damage by passing boats] are a part of the Company’s long-term plan to produce significant renewable energy in North Caicos and will eventually connect all the way to South Caicos.”
