TT gets US$80M for green projects

Solar panels use the sun's energy to generate electricity

Environment Minister Roodal Moonilal announced on Tuesday that the Inter-American Development Bank has approved a loan of US$80 million for environmentally friendly projects in Trinidad & Tobago.

This follows a meeting Moonilal had in February with the President of the IDB to discuss finance for several environmentally friendly projects, including solar and wind power projects as an alternative to conventional electricity.

Moonilal told reporters his ministry will be building solar powered houses in public housing estates within the next two years. He also plans to have solar powered traffic lights. Earlier in the year Moonilal had announced that all lighting for the billion-dollar highway to Point Fortin would have solar powered lighting.

The minister also said government plans to buy low emission vehicles for the entire public service. He plans to lead the way by buying the Toyota hybrid vehicle, the Prius, for his ministry.

He said all these 'green' initiatives are in keeping with pldges Trinidad and Tobago made at at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in South Africa.