East Grand Bahama residents are set to benefit from a proposed $4m microgrid project that will create 50 construction jobs during the 12-month build out.
They were informed of the project during a public meeting last Thursday at St Cleveland Baptist Church Hall in Freetown, which was hosted by the Ministry of Finance. It will deploy renewable energy, and provide the community with more resilient energy infrastructure that is better able to withstand devastating hurricanes anticipated in future.
The project is expected to begin at the end of 2024, with microgrids established at five locations - Freetown, High Rock, McLean''s Town, Sweeting''s Cay and Water Cay.
Ginger Moxey, minister for Grand Bahama, said: "Our government is so focused on the revitalisation of East Grand Bahama and Grand Bahama in general. We are so happy to be here at this Town Hall meeting to hear their concerns. We believe the residents are appreciating what they are hearing here tonight."
Also in attendance were Kwasi Thompson, MP for East Grand Bahama, and Iram Lewis, MP for central Grand Bahama. The project resulted from the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, which caused billions of dollars in damage on Grand Bahama and Abaco.
This resulted in residents of East Grand Bahama being without electricity, forcing them to either relocate or use generators. Through the microgrid project, facilitated by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), east Grand Bahama''s power system will be rehabilitated and modernised with an interconnected grid network deploying solar energy designed to withstand increasingly severe hurricanes.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center and Avista Corp. are partnering to develop a microgrid, which is an operation that runs on electricity produced on-site.
The location for the project will be the Outreach Center, which provides education, social services and cultural enrichment programs for children and families, according to its website.
Called the MLK Center Resiliency Project, Avista will fund the installation of solar panels, batteries, and associated electrical equipment for the microgrid.
"The Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center has always been here supporting families in East Central Spokane," Freda Gandy, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center executive director, said in a statement.
Though construction permit application documents do not list an estimated cost of the effort, Avista has pledged $1 million. The Washington State Department of Commerce awarded $1.5 million to the project in August of last year.
"Thanks to Avista''s Named Communities Investment Fund and the Washington State Department of Commerce Solar Plus Storage Grant," Gandy said, "we''re paving the way for a more equitable and empowering future as we join a network of resilient buildings in Spokane."
According to Avista''s website, the effort will have numerous purposes.
During normal business hours, the solar panels will power the community center and also charge on-site batteries.
Then in the event of unplanned power outages, the location will run on the stored energy and provide support for the community during emergencies, especially for vulnerable groups who rely on electronically-powered medical equipment, Avista''s wrote on its website.
"Avista is honored to partner with the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center and the City of Spokane to strengthen our community through grid resiliency with innovative solar and battery technology," Heather Rosentrater, Avista president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. "This will enhance community connections and the ability to endure extreme weather and wildfire events."
Work has already begun to improve the roof of the lower South Hill building at 500 S. Stone St., according to city records.
The installation of the battery energy storage system infrastructure is planned for fall of next year, according to Avista''s website.
Riverfront Paws Park is being planned by the city of Spokane Park & Recreation department which will encompass just less than an acre of Havermale Island.
According to plans submitted to city building officials last week, the project is slated for the east end of the island nearest the Upper Spokane Falls Dam.
Plans were originally unveiled to the public in June of 2022, according to city records.
The Spokane Humane Society donated $250,000 towards construction of the dog park, city records show.
"Spokane Humane Society built the very first facility in the city for animal care right here on the banks of the Spokane River," Melissa Williams, then president of the board of directors of Spokane Humane Society, said in a news release at the time of the unveiling event. "It feels good to be coming back here to our roots."
The park will include a paved plaza, picnic shelter, artificial turf and granite surfacing, fencing, landscaping and dog park toys, plans show.
The project was designed by Spokane-based NAC Architecture and Tacoma-based AHBL Landscape Architects.
The estimated cost of construction is $750,000, according to development application documents.
Spokane City Credit Union is planning to expand its footprint to the previous home of Prohibition Gastropub, which closed in August.
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