SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS CHARGES TOWARD SUSTAINABLE ISLAND STATE GOAL WITH SOLARISE AND DRIVE LAUNCH
Basseterre, Saint Kitts, April 30, 2026 (SKNIS): The push to transform Saint Kitts and Nevis into a Sustainable Island State surged forward on Thursday, April 30, with the launch of the innovative Solar Integration for Sustainable Energy (SOLARISE) and Decarbonised Roadway Initiative for Vehicle Electrification (DRIVE) programmes. The launch ceremony was held at the CUNA Conference Room.
SOLARISE is a transformative programme, dubbed a national invitation, by the Minister responsible for Energy, the Honourable Konris Maynard. It regulates and incentivises the installation of rooftop solar panels, essentially compensating home and business owners, and tenants for generating their own electricity.
“Through net billing, excess energy exported to the grid will be compensated at 11 cents per kilowatt hour. That means your solar system is not just reducing your bill by SKELEC’s current Tariff for the energy you self-use, it is working for you. It is generating value. It is turning your rooftop into an asset,” said Honourable Maynard. “And we did not stop there. Because this government understands that real transformation requires bold decisions, we have removed all taxes on solar systems—zero-rated—until December 31, 2026.
With SOLARISE, persons can look forward to lower electricity bills, greater energy independence, and protection from rising fuel costs.
The second programme, DRIVE, is a policy in action plan to encourage and prepare for the transition to electric vehicles. It represents the national approach to the future of transportation.
“We are a small island nation. Our island main road network in Saint Kitts is approximately 32 miles long. That means range anxiety—the fear that discourages many from adopting electric vehicles (EV) elsewhere—simply does not apply here in the same way,” Minister Maynard stated. “We are uniquely positioned to lead. We do not have to wait for perfect conditions. We can create them, and through DRIVE, we are doing exactly that—establishing policy, standards, training, and a clear pathway for the growth of electric mobility across our Federation.”
To accelerate the shift to EVs, Minister Maynard announced that import duties on fully electric vehicles under four years will be slashed from 45 percent to 10 percent effective May 01, 2026.
The implementation of DRIVE will result in lower upfront costs for EVs, making the initial purchase significantly more affordable; lower fuel costs as recharging a battery is considerably cheaper than filling a tank with gasoline; and lower vehicle maintenance costs as EVs feature fewer moving parts, leading to fewer repairs.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is what forward-thinking leadership looks like,” Minister Maynard expressed. “It is not about waiting. It is not about reacting. It is about preparing – decisively – for the future. And that is exactly what this administration is doing.”
The minister encouraged the private sector and enterprising individuals to seize the opportunity to invest, innovate, and build new services to finance solutions and train workers in the rapidly growing renewable energy economy.
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