In an opinion column published on 26 August 2026, the author calls for accountability regarding an $8 million solar-plus-battery microgrid investment across the Turks and Caicos Islands that FortisTCI first pledged in June 2023. The column argues that ongoing high electricity bills and continued heavy reliance on imported diesel make transparency essential.
The author questions the status of original plans to supply roughly 30 percent of power for North and Middle Caicos and 91 percent for Salt Cay, which were targeted for operation between 2024 and 2025. Although Pelican Energy TCI Ltd., the utility's new name, commissioned a 414-kilowatt rooftop solar system at Salterra Resort in South Caicos, the author contends that residents still lack updates on whether the Caicos and Salt Cay installations were finished or how much funding was spent. Credit data showed the utility generated $118 million in revenue in 2024.
As Pelican Energy TCI Ltd. seeks planning approval for a 10-megawatt solar farm across 20 acres in Providenciales, the author urges the government to offer grants, low-interest loans, and rebates for rooftop solar. Minister for Innovation, Technology and Energy Jay Saunders has noted that officials want independent operators to sell solar power back to the grid.