US initiative financing largest solar energy facility in Caribbean

By Michelle Nurse On Jun 29, 2015

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell (right-background), looks as Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), John Morton (seated left), and Chairman of WRB Enterprises, G. Robert Blanchard (seated right), sign the US$47 million financing agreement to develop solar plant. Also observing are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Hilary Alexander (left), and United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Luis G. Moreno. (Photo by JIS via Caribbean 360)

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The United States is financing the construction of the first utility scale photovoltaic power plant in Jamaica.

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) – the US Government’s development finance institution – recently signed a US$47 million financing agreement with WRB Enterprises for development of the 20 megawatt solar plant in York Town, in the southern parish of Clarendon.

The US$60 million Content Solar Limited (CSL), being built by WRB Enterprises, will supply power to the national grid. It is the second such project in Jamaica, to be financed by OPIC, under the United States Government’s Caribbean Energy Security Initiative, launched by Vice President Joe Biden in June of last year.