Jul 24, 2020
"Powering life today and tomorrow" is the Guernsey Electricity motto. Such a simple phrase encapsulates the ethos of sustainable development - to enable wellbeing and life on the planet while leaving the conditions fit-for-purpose for them to thrive in the future.
While energy underpins the rise of human civilisations, the unsustainable use of fossil fuels that emit Greenhouse Gases such as Carbon Dioxide is bringing us to the brink of irreversible damage and collapse through global warming, ocean acidification, wasteful and polluting production and overconsumption.
We interview Alan Bates, CEO of Guernsey Electricity about the energy trilemma, their new sustainability plans, the key role of the business in enabling the island energy transition, the advantages of commercialisation and government ownership, and the priority to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Alan stressed the need for innovation, for "failing fast and failing cheap" and to be on top of the technological developments in renewables, battery storage, smart grid to not fall behind.
His message that "There is no Do Nothing" scenario is a sobering call for action for government, business and civic society.
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Alan Bates and the Chief Executive of Guernsey Electricity since 2010, Board member at Guernsey Water and formerly MD of Manx Gas. You can follow Alan on Twitter - https://twitter.com/ambgsy