Miami, Feb 2, 2009 (EFE via COMTEX)-- U.S. firm Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. and the government of the Dominican Republic signed an accord for the installation of the first solar energy plant in the Caribbean nation, the company said Monday.
Sunovia CEO Carl Smith said in a communique that Dominican President Leonel Fernandez has shown "a tremendous passion for solving the country's energy difficulties."
Dominican officials, according to Smith, understand "that having a bilateral focus, including the responsible production of renewable energy, (and adopting) practices that conserve energy are critical steps that must be taken if the country is to achieve energy independence in the long term.
The agreement, regulated by the Dominican law of incentives for foreign investment, calls for an investment of some $200 million and will create jobs for around 2,500 workers.
For his part, Eddy Martinez, executive director of the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center, said that the accord is the result of an attempt the Caribbean nation has made for years to reduce its dependence on oil.
"And at the same time, create new jobs and attract new investment to the island," he said.
The contract with the Sarasota, Florida-based Sunovia is part of a wave of new investment in renewable energy in the Dominican Republic, Martinez said.
Taking part are other U.S. companies like Masada Resource Group, STC Engineering and Burbano Recycling, which have established plants for generating electric power and making biofuels in the Dominican Republic.
Martinez said that his country not only wishes to attract investors in renewable energy, but also seeks to increase investment in the sectors of stem-cell research, genetically modified foods and the development of hybrid vehicles. EFE
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SUNV U.S. firm to build solar energy plant in D.R.
Also the DR gov contracted with the Masada Resource Group to place several plants in the country, using the commercial CES OxyNol process.
This system transforms municipal solid waste (MSW), waste water and sewer sludge to market-grade fuel ethanol and other commercial byproducts like Gypsum (cement industry, fertilizers, construction industry, binders), CO2 (food and chemical industries), Fly Ash (cement industry) and others. The entire process is environmentally safe while creating large demand for the output.
Also the DR is actively engaged in talks with representatives from Florida, whom are very interested in investing funds to secure ethanol supplies to the State from the DR.
A large scale ethanol powered electrical generator is also under planning and development in the DR, via the contractor with ample experience in the field.
The DR also hired an engineer group to inspect/outline and provide a report in the seismic stability of our existent infrastructures. The firm is from San Francisco, California with an extended experience on the field.
Solar panels will be manufacture in the country under contract with several international suppliers. A draft is in the process that will require new commercial/residential construction/designs to incorporate energy savings technologies to the fullest. The same is also true for all electrical devices that enter the country and are manufactured in the DR.