We've moved mountains since Grenada's hotels declared their zero carbon goals with the 2012 Earth Day Declaration. Since then, there's been a rigourous effort to:
1. Research the best way to achieve that goal
2. Consult with all the Hoteliers who will be impacted by the project
3. Determine needs (something the policy industry would call a 'needs assessment')
4. Determine the recpients willingness to invest themselves in the effort
5. Shortlist preferred techological solutions & identify costs
6. Consult with donors, and international agencies involved in combatting climate change as well as promoting development
7. Consult with stakeholders outside the immediate project group who may also be impacted by or interested in the project
8. Draft a project outline
9. Negotiate terms with the local utility
10. Negotiate terms with the local government
11. Draft another project outline (based on negotiation results)
12. Submit the proposal to the donor......
No wait!~ We can't submit the proposal to the donor directly, we have to submit to the government to obtain their approval and THEN they can submit to the donor.
In our case, as is often the case - when pursuing funding envelopes that are substantial in size (over say, $500,000 USD) the donors usually require the country government to indicate their support for the project. Makes sense on a diplomatic, economic, and practical front for the donors, but it sure presents a challenge at times 'on the ground'!
Why?
Because the one thing that policy and paper shufflers often fail to include in their systems development is a good look at local, practical, operating conditions. Most developing country governments suffering from tremendous capacity strain - as a few gifted individuals (who have not succumbed to brain drain - leaving for higher paid jobs elsewhere) carry more than their share of workload burden. The rest of the public service 'bulk' is at it is in most countries - costly deadweight.
The result?
Things move slowly. Sometimes slower than backwards it seems. The Government of India has some creative ways of addressing the problem of efficiency in a sprawling bureaucracy by embedding accountability measures at all levels. I haven't been on the ground there to see whether or not it works, but in our case - something like that would benefit us.
As we wait for the government machinery to re-start it's engines after 3.5 public holiday days in 2 weeks - I can't help but lament about the time lost while the government moves at its own speed exercising its own internal due diligence before the project I designed can 'officially' move forward to the donor.
It's not the fault of the individuals responsible for getting our proposals and requests through the government system. I know well enough from my own days working in the Prime Minister's Office that no ammount of desire or will can change some elements of how fast things move in government. But gosh....from a private sector point of view where needs are seen and attended to swiftly for the benefit of good business, it's hard to be patient and wait knowing what is at stake.
And so we nudge, and encourage, and try to get things moving along.......while I work hard in the background trying to keep my clients looking credible with stakeholders in countries that move quite a lot faster than the Caribbean.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Kirani's Inspiration: 43.94
Kirani James, World Champion & Olympic Gold Medalist. He is not just an ambassador for Grenada for athletics, as the first Grenadian to win an olympic medal - he is a champion for rising above poverty.
*Please note, anyone viewing this posting prior to August 10th will have seen a quote attributed in error to Kirani James, as the words were spoken by Silver Medalist, Luguelin Santos.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Caribbean Development Fund
We had a pleasant surprise yesterday morning when my clients the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association got a call from the Ministry of Energy saying a delegation from the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) was in Grenada and they'd like to meet with us.
You know you're on the right track when the donors come to you!
After a very pleasant meeting, we parted anticipating a lot of future cooperation. The CDF is investing funds in Grenada through the Grenada Development Bank and when all the bureaucratic arrangements such as signatories are place - stakeholders like the GHTA and other SME's will be able to access grant/loan financing support for business development. Great!
They're interested in energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy production so we're well positioned to make use of this financing mechanism. The ammount they're offering is small (in relation to the real expenses associated with EE,EC and RE) but since donors like to see counterpart financing I think our best move is to take a bit of funding from them, a bit from SIDSdock and a bit from other sources, like the PetroCaribe Investment Fund.
It's amazing though how long it takes to talk to stakeholders and design the project and then once that is done, the proposals can be developed so quickly! Of course, once the proposals are in - then comes the W-a-i-t-i-n-g period!
You know you're on the right track when the donors come to you!
After a very pleasant meeting, we parted anticipating a lot of future cooperation. The CDF is investing funds in Grenada through the Grenada Development Bank and when all the bureaucratic arrangements such as signatories are place - stakeholders like the GHTA and other SME's will be able to access grant/loan financing support for business development. Great!
They're interested in energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy production so we're well positioned to make use of this financing mechanism. The ammount they're offering is small (in relation to the real expenses associated with EE,EC and RE) but since donors like to see counterpart financing I think our best move is to take a bit of funding from them, a bit from SIDSdock and a bit from other sources, like the PetroCaribe Investment Fund.
It's amazing though how long it takes to talk to stakeholders and design the project and then once that is done, the proposals can be developed so quickly! Of course, once the proposals are in - then comes the W-a-i-t-i-n-g period!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Psychology of Development
In the last seven days, three women have lost their lives at the hands of men they once shared intimacy with. Some people would say their lives were lost at the blade of a cutlass: I would say that is the instrument of the greater denger rooted in all or nothing thinking. The kind of thinking that leads to crimes of passion (or hienous stupidity, depending on how you want to percieve it).
Crime is not normally a subject anyone promoting Tourism would ever mention on the internet, but I am a supporter of sustainable development, so that means placing equal value on the ecconomy, society, and the environment. Right now, our society needs some urgent attention.
Before I start, it should be noted, that Grenada enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the Western Hemisphere, and most of what I reflect upon in this editorial are the more sub-surface (incideous) intimate aspects of our society - and they are my opinions and they are very unlikely to affect a tourist's experience.
So here goes....my take on a TOUCHY subject!
My passion for Grenada is rooted in my belief that this little country, with it's 100,000 people and incredible natural resources has the potential to be a world leader. It has the potential to catapult into a post-industrial future, avoiding so many of the mistakes made by the industrial era of the 1900's. It has the potential to be a model for the world. That is what is at the heart of the projects I design - whether they be for renewable energy, marine conservation, organic agriculture, education, SME development, child's rights....
But Grenada has a development barrier - and it is a psychological one. Grenada is not alone, a lot of countries have the same problem (some of us might argue the whole world does). And for all the money and effort invested in projects, aid, investments, policies and regulations (worldwide) we've almost completely neglected the psychology of success. Perhaps that's why we as a planet have not yet achieved the results we desire.
As we watch the Olympics, we must appreciate that the people who "win" are the ones who can visualize themselves as winners before they compete, while they compete and of course after they win. The losers most often are held back by a shadow of personal doubt (or some element beyond their control). You have to believe it - to be it! And it is no less the case for a tiny nation trying to define it's future. If we want to be great, we have to see ourselves as great. If we want harmony and unity we have to value it, be comfortable it, and practice it daily.
It's ok to have moods - just not extremes. As the Dalai Lama once said in an interview when he was asked "Do you ever have a bad day?" he replied, "I am like the ocean. There are waves on the surface but I am calm underneath". How many of us can say that about ourselves? Certainly not the men who took the lives of women they once loved.
In a small island society, the way that we see ourselves goes beyond the individual because everyone is connected to everyone else (much like the cosmic island called earth). The individual is inextricably linked to the family, which is linked to the community, which is linked to the nation, which is linked to the region. Embedded in that inteconnectedness are 'family of origin' issues most people carry around even though few are even aware they are there. The things we learn as young people about communicating, solving problems, resolving conficts, and relating to our feelings. The challenge for Grenada is that the "family of origin" is not the nuclear western mother, father, child family - it is the entire society.
Are we taught to resolve conflicts rationally and fairly? Are we encouraged to share our thoughts and feelings with others? Are we encouraged to think for ourselves or follow in line even if it means denying our true selves? When we feel anger, frustration, pain, or dissapointment do we know how to express them, or do we wear a mask that hids our true emotions? Do we project realistic expectations on others? If the answer is "no" to these questions, then it should come as no surprise that these women lost their lives.
I am not a pyschologist but I do firmly believe that based on what my little island has taught me, we would be a whole lot better off if we had healthier relationship dynamics here.
So as I see it - that's a development priority - because without a healthy mindset we will not achieve our goals - assuming we even know what they are.
Crime is not normally a subject anyone promoting Tourism would ever mention on the internet, but I am a supporter of sustainable development, so that means placing equal value on the ecconomy, society, and the environment. Right now, our society needs some urgent attention.
Before I start, it should be noted, that Grenada enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the Western Hemisphere, and most of what I reflect upon in this editorial are the more sub-surface (incideous) intimate aspects of our society - and they are my opinions and they are very unlikely to affect a tourist's experience.
So here goes....my take on a TOUCHY subject!
My passion for Grenada is rooted in my belief that this little country, with it's 100,000 people and incredible natural resources has the potential to be a world leader. It has the potential to catapult into a post-industrial future, avoiding so many of the mistakes made by the industrial era of the 1900's. It has the potential to be a model for the world. That is what is at the heart of the projects I design - whether they be for renewable energy, marine conservation, organic agriculture, education, SME development, child's rights....
But Grenada has a development barrier - and it is a psychological one. Grenada is not alone, a lot of countries have the same problem (some of us might argue the whole world does). And for all the money and effort invested in projects, aid, investments, policies and regulations (worldwide) we've almost completely neglected the psychology of success. Perhaps that's why we as a planet have not yet achieved the results we desire.
As we watch the Olympics, we must appreciate that the people who "win" are the ones who can visualize themselves as winners before they compete, while they compete and of course after they win. The losers most often are held back by a shadow of personal doubt (or some element beyond their control). You have to believe it - to be it! And it is no less the case for a tiny nation trying to define it's future. If we want to be great, we have to see ourselves as great. If we want harmony and unity we have to value it, be comfortable it, and practice it daily.
It's ok to have moods - just not extremes. As the Dalai Lama once said in an interview when he was asked "Do you ever have a bad day?" he replied, "I am like the ocean. There are waves on the surface but I am calm underneath". How many of us can say that about ourselves? Certainly not the men who took the lives of women they once loved.
In a small island society, the way that we see ourselves goes beyond the individual because everyone is connected to everyone else (much like the cosmic island called earth). The individual is inextricably linked to the family, which is linked to the community, which is linked to the nation, which is linked to the region. Embedded in that inteconnectedness are 'family of origin' issues most people carry around even though few are even aware they are there. The things we learn as young people about communicating, solving problems, resolving conficts, and relating to our feelings. The challenge for Grenada is that the "family of origin" is not the nuclear western mother, father, child family - it is the entire society.
Are we taught to resolve conflicts rationally and fairly? Are we encouraged to share our thoughts and feelings with others? Are we encouraged to think for ourselves or follow in line even if it means denying our true selves? When we feel anger, frustration, pain, or dissapointment do we know how to express them, or do we wear a mask that hids our true emotions? Do we project realistic expectations on others? If the answer is "no" to these questions, then it should come as no surprise that these women lost their lives.
I am not a pyschologist but I do firmly believe that based on what my little island has taught me, we would be a whole lot better off if we had healthier relationship dynamics here.
So as I see it - that's a development priority - because without a healthy mindset we will not achieve our goals - assuming we even know what they are.
Monday, July 23, 2012
IRENA Renewable Readiness Assessment
I am posting this 'on the fly' before heading out to the second day of meetings with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). They are here conducting a consultation with local experts and key stakeholders (as I do not consider myself an energy expert!) to develop a renewable readiness assessment for Grenada. A local consultant has been hired to do the job, and between his effort and the representatives of IRENA that have travelled to Grenada for this consultation, I must report that I'm not only impressed by their work - I am delighted that such an important fledgling organization is getting off to such a great start!
Here's why:
Anyone that has worked in development or government or civil society can tell you that since "stakeholder consultation" became the popular thing to do, it wouldn't be hard to spend an entire career in meetings! Most of the time the results are limited to generating a report that ends up in a filing cabinet, or in some cases it will actually inform policy development (but that's rare).
The IRENA consultations are different however - they have already captured 'Action Items' that if acted upon will yeild measurable, immediate, tangible, and greatly needed results. I don't want to steal IRENA's thunder by publishing what we've come up with so far, but I am 100% certain that when the Renewable Readiness Assessment is released - it will be worth reading.
The project I am developing for the GHTA has already been reshaped by the collective wisdom of the people in the room - and a moment of inspiration on behalf of the Non-State Actors panel has also been chewed on by participants and may well become a project I can develop for them.
More to come!
Here's why:
Anyone that has worked in development or government or civil society can tell you that since "stakeholder consultation" became the popular thing to do, it wouldn't be hard to spend an entire career in meetings! Most of the time the results are limited to generating a report that ends up in a filing cabinet, or in some cases it will actually inform policy development (but that's rare).
The IRENA consultations are different however - they have already captured 'Action Items' that if acted upon will yeild measurable, immediate, tangible, and greatly needed results. I don't want to steal IRENA's thunder by publishing what we've come up with so far, but I am 100% certain that when the Renewable Readiness Assessment is released - it will be worth reading.
The project I am developing for the GHTA has already been reshaped by the collective wisdom of the people in the room - and a moment of inspiration on behalf of the Non-State Actors panel has also been chewed on by participants and may well become a project I can develop for them.
More to come!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Momentum
Things are beginning to move in an encouraging direction. Contact has been made with some really big Foundations and international financial institutions who are interested in the direction we are heading in. So far, what I am finding most fascinating is how for the second time (the last time being my work facilitating the creation of the Four Seasons Resort Eco-Resort plan in Grenada) I am seeing how important it is to have someone playing the role I am playing now to bring the technocrats together with the business minds and the people decisions affect.
What it boils down to is (needing) a relatively neutral third party who works with all the stakeholders guided by a very simple mandate:
"HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM SO EVERYONE WINS?
HOW DO WE TURN THIS PROBLEM INTO AN OPPORTUNITY?"
It takes a lot of listening, and a very interdisciplinary intellectual foundation to be able to hear widely varied viewpoints (technical, emotional, financial) and find the win-zone among them. I have not spent enough time thinking about my role in all of this to the point where I've developed a label for it. Maybe some of my readers have some thoughts about it?
*****
I met with the local utility (and parent company) executives this week and began negotiating our renewable energy plans with them directly. The meetings revealed a few things:
1. There are an enormous amount of technical considerations that have to be worked into the project design not to mention negotiating agreement upon. This is going to slow down the grant procurement process for renewables a bit - but not terminally so.
2. We're at the mercy of Grenlec because of the monopoly law, and their investments in renewable energy are going to deepen that monopoly. They provide good service and they are committed to a 100% renewable future for Grenada - that's not the problem. The problem is how difficult it is to negotiate with a party that really holds all the power. We didn't get anywhere on negotiating better prices but we did open discussion about a 1.5-2 MW solar/wind farm. We want to own the solars, but they want to give us a 5 year term for it, after which they would own the solars. On matters like that - what choice do we have without legislated change?
3. The company refreshingly interested in renewable energy - and that's a good thing.
4. I will need to develop the energy audit and retrofit project component as soon as possible because the energy generation component is going to take awhile.
There was also some discussion about the utility's investment in geothermal energy.
Ohhhh my wheels are spinning with ideas!
Since our meeting I have been formulating ideas about setting up a community fund that could invest in the geothermal plant so that revenues stemming from it could be invested back into the country's development. GRENLEC would rather pay back into the community than to a bank or global investor - and we'd naturally prefer it too! The thought really excites me.
What if I could raise the money locally and have those community partners invest in the drilling exploration for the geothermal plant? It comes with risks, but the technocrats I have spoken to seem to be very confident about it, citing the presence of our volcano's Kick 'em Jenny and Kick 'em Jack and the similar geological features in Dominica have yielded good results (GRENELC is also in this country).
As business models go - many governments around the world privatized their utilities and by doing so it may have improved on the core efficiencies of the companies, but it disconnected the end-user from the benefits derived from the utilities profits. What if that bridge could be crossed again so that the venture capital used to develop a new (renewable) energy resource didn't come from the global marketplace (there-by exposing Grenada to capital flight later on) but from local sources instead? It would be so much better for all involved......
Grenada is also a country that has oil - could we make a case to one of the climate change funding mechanisms to pay Grenada to leave the oil the ground where it belongs if we successfully develop geothermal energy???? THAT would be revolutionary! I know pundits would cringe at the thought of giving up a license to print money......but it brings me to an old Cree proverb...
"After the last tree has been cut and the last fish has been caught - only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten".
But then as life always finds ways to twist the best common sense into something more complicated I realize that while I possess this kind of thinking on the one hand I also realize that I can do this - I can find ways to make this happen (or a version of it anyway) but I need more financial resources to back up my efforts...so we're back to money again! **sigh**
What it boils down to is (needing) a relatively neutral third party who works with all the stakeholders guided by a very simple mandate:
"HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM SO EVERYONE WINS?
HOW DO WE TURN THIS PROBLEM INTO AN OPPORTUNITY?"
It takes a lot of listening, and a very interdisciplinary intellectual foundation to be able to hear widely varied viewpoints (technical, emotional, financial) and find the win-zone among them. I have not spent enough time thinking about my role in all of this to the point where I've developed a label for it. Maybe some of my readers have some thoughts about it?
*****
I met with the local utility (and parent company) executives this week and began negotiating our renewable energy plans with them directly. The meetings revealed a few things:
1. There are an enormous amount of technical considerations that have to be worked into the project design not to mention negotiating agreement upon. This is going to slow down the grant procurement process for renewables a bit - but not terminally so.
2. We're at the mercy of Grenlec because of the monopoly law, and their investments in renewable energy are going to deepen that monopoly. They provide good service and they are committed to a 100% renewable future for Grenada - that's not the problem. The problem is how difficult it is to negotiate with a party that really holds all the power. We didn't get anywhere on negotiating better prices but we did open discussion about a 1.5-2 MW solar/wind farm. We want to own the solars, but they want to give us a 5 year term for it, after which they would own the solars. On matters like that - what choice do we have without legislated change?
3. The company refreshingly interested in renewable energy - and that's a good thing.
4. I will need to develop the energy audit and retrofit project component as soon as possible because the energy generation component is going to take awhile.
There was also some discussion about the utility's investment in geothermal energy.
Ohhhh my wheels are spinning with ideas!
Since our meeting I have been formulating ideas about setting up a community fund that could invest in the geothermal plant so that revenues stemming from it could be invested back into the country's development. GRENLEC would rather pay back into the community than to a bank or global investor - and we'd naturally prefer it too! The thought really excites me.
What if I could raise the money locally and have those community partners invest in the drilling exploration for the geothermal plant? It comes with risks, but the technocrats I have spoken to seem to be very confident about it, citing the presence of our volcano's Kick 'em Jenny and Kick 'em Jack and the similar geological features in Dominica have yielded good results (GRENELC is also in this country).
As business models go - many governments around the world privatized their utilities and by doing so it may have improved on the core efficiencies of the companies, but it disconnected the end-user from the benefits derived from the utilities profits. What if that bridge could be crossed again so that the venture capital used to develop a new (renewable) energy resource didn't come from the global marketplace (there-by exposing Grenada to capital flight later on) but from local sources instead? It would be so much better for all involved......
Grenada is also a country that has oil - could we make a case to one of the climate change funding mechanisms to pay Grenada to leave the oil the ground where it belongs if we successfully develop geothermal energy???? THAT would be revolutionary! I know pundits would cringe at the thought of giving up a license to print money......but it brings me to an old Cree proverb...
"After the last tree has been cut and the last fish has been caught - only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten".
But then as life always finds ways to twist the best common sense into something more complicated I realize that while I possess this kind of thinking on the one hand I also realize that I can do this - I can find ways to make this happen (or a version of it anyway) but I need more financial resources to back up my efforts...so we're back to money again! **sigh**
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Big Reveal: Zero Carbon Hotel Project
The project has been designed, Members have been consulted and have given their approval, and it is now ready to reveal! The project outline looks really simple, but it actually responds to many competing needs and a very complicated local environment. Ultimately after consulting with stakeholders and researching the issues, it became clear that the only way Zero Carbon Hotel project would get off the ground was if it was designed as a "win-win" for all stakeholders involved. It didnt make any sense to design something that would result in financial losses for the local utility (we're held in a monopoly law). It made sense to align the project with the governments renewable ambitions, and to ensure that whatever was designed provided the greatly needed financial relief required by the hotel sector at this time. Since Grenada would be remiss to stop its green development at the zero carbon goal, the project has also been designed to expand the scope of sustainability through education and further project development/grants.
One thing that is quite unique to this project is that it is not just a renewable energy project - is an economic recovery plan. Eliminating the electricity bill for hotels will mean the difference between open and closed for many of them - and that means jobs and local spending that supports a staggering economy.
Sustainability is not just about environmental survival - in our case, it is our economic survival too.
The outline of the project I've concieved is as follows:
Grenada's Zero Carbon Hotel Project
Component One:
- Conduct detailed energy audits on properties. These audits will provide detailed information on where energy is used, where core inefficiencies are, as well as recommending changes to be made and the time it would take for those changes to pay for themselves in cost savings.
- Implement Retrofits. This would involve making the recommended changes outlined in the energy audits. It is expected that this will reduce electricity consumption by as much as 50%. Retrofits can be implemented through purchasing and/or project agreements with bilaterial supporters/corporate sponsors.
- Environmental education for property owners/managers to prepare for sustainability upgrades and to ensure Grenada meets marketplace demands for a 'Green' destination.
Component Two:
- Procure high density solar PV panels (enough to generate significant surplus)
- Install on government land donated/leased by the Government.
- Arrange maintenance agreement with local utility
- first draw of renewable energy produced goes to Hotels
Component Three:
- Portion of surplus given to local utility to mitigate losses arising from net-metering arrangement
- portion of surplus sold to local utility and re-invested in further 'greening' activities as a tourist destination and marketing of the sector
- Case study development
This basic outline has been shared locally with the Members of the Hotel and Tourism Association, the Government and the Opposition (it's an election year in Grenada).
Now all we have to do is come to an agreement with the local utility to raise money for this project and to implement it - since component One is the only element of the project that can be implemented without permission from the local utility and possibly even some special amendments to the law.
The trisk is - is offering free surplus energy enough of an incentive for the local utility to support this project? So far, negotiations have been luke-warm, and the head of the company in Miami is meeting with us on Wednesday this week.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT US!
One thing that is quite unique to this project is that it is not just a renewable energy project - is an economic recovery plan. Eliminating the electricity bill for hotels will mean the difference between open and closed for many of them - and that means jobs and local spending that supports a staggering economy.
Sustainability is not just about environmental survival - in our case, it is our economic survival too.
The outline of the project I've concieved is as follows:
Grenada's Zero Carbon Hotel Project
Component One:
- Conduct detailed energy audits on properties. These audits will provide detailed information on where energy is used, where core inefficiencies are, as well as recommending changes to be made and the time it would take for those changes to pay for themselves in cost savings.
- Implement Retrofits. This would involve making the recommended changes outlined in the energy audits. It is expected that this will reduce electricity consumption by as much as 50%. Retrofits can be implemented through purchasing and/or project agreements with bilaterial supporters/corporate sponsors.
- Environmental education for property owners/managers to prepare for sustainability upgrades and to ensure Grenada meets marketplace demands for a 'Green' destination.
Component Two:
- Procure high density solar PV panels (enough to generate significant surplus)
- Install on government land donated/leased by the Government.
- Arrange maintenance agreement with local utility
- first draw of renewable energy produced goes to Hotels
Component Three:
- Portion of surplus given to local utility to mitigate losses arising from net-metering arrangement
- portion of surplus sold to local utility and re-invested in further 'greening' activities as a tourist destination and marketing of the sector
- Case study development
This basic outline has been shared locally with the Members of the Hotel and Tourism Association, the Government and the Opposition (it's an election year in Grenada).
Now all we have to do is come to an agreement with the local utility to raise money for this project and to implement it - since component One is the only element of the project that can be implemented without permission from the local utility and possibly even some special amendments to the law.
The trisk is - is offering free surplus energy enough of an incentive for the local utility to support this project? So far, negotiations have been luke-warm, and the head of the company in Miami is meeting with us on Wednesday this week.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT US!
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