THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHEN I wrote the article 'Alternative Energy for Jamaica', which was published on January 29, 2005, in The Gleaner, I was not aware that research was being done with good results on capturing cheaper energy from the sea.
The Gleaner's report on Thursday, February 3, 2005, captioned "UWI Professor doubts viability of natural gas", ought to be of national interest. That our powers-that-be, for whatever reasons, seem to be by-passing local possibilities of cheaper energy supply is rather startling.
Whatever the reasons, the following considerations ought to surmount them.
First, all Jamaicans ought to be aware that with the unpredictable increases in the cost of oil, we are facing an energy crisis. The purchase of oil adds to our national debt as a portion of borrowed money is used to buy oil.
Secondly, Jamaica's ability to supply an increasing demand for oil, will decrease proportionate to her population growth. By the middle of this century, we may not be able to obtain enough oil, even if we have money to purchase it.
ADVANTAGES OF OCEAN
THERMAL ENERGY
Professor Al Binger points out some of the advantages to be gained from Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEK ), a technology for generating electricity from the sea. He says that an investment of $80 million to build a plant to generate 10 megawatts of diesel facility would repay the cost of installation in 15 years, and provide an inexhaustible source of electricity free of cost, thereafter.
The public ought to know why WELCO's recommendation that a windfarm installed at sea was far more reliable than a windfarm on land, was shelved.
Marine hydroelectric plants, with turbines driven by sea power, erected on suitable coastline sites, are an inviting possibility. There will be mechanical and chemical difficulties to be surmounted such as building sea-inflow tunnels below sea-level to drive the turbines, designing out-flow pumps to eject sea water back into the sea, anti-siltage and contra-corrosion measures.
Now is the time for our universities to take up the challenge to explore alternative energy. The processes will be very costly, but the results will pay off in the long run.
The importance to our economy and to the security of our people's future welfare cannot be taken so lightly.
I am, etc.,
OREN O. COUSINS
Linstead, St. Catherine
