Bermuda’s energy situation demands more than slogans, distant targets and empty promises. It demands clear, practical action that lowers bills, strengthens resilience, protects our people and addresses the local pollution caused by our present generation mix. Too many of our families and businesses continue to feel the impact of volatile fuel prices and health concerning pollution. We must confront this reality head-on and pursue solutions that deliver results now while building a cleaner, healthier future.

First, let me be clear about the problem. Bermuda’s small, isolated grid and heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels leave us exposed. Global price swings translate quickly into higher electricity bills for ordinary households. When storms come, outages become threats to safety and livelihoods. On top of that, our on-island generation has local consequences: emissions from the diesel and heavy fuel oil-fired Belco plant contribute to air pollution that affects community health and our environment. We cannot simply hope that the status quo will carry us through. Our response must be realistic, measured and centred on the needs of all residents.

The One Bermuda Alliance’s priority is to reduce the burden on consumers while tackling the pollution that comes with generation. Renewable energy is an essential piece of the solution, but we must deploy it in ways that ensure vulnerable households are not left paying higher grid costs as others go off-grid. Rooftop solar, paired with battery storage, is increasingly affordable and can cut peak demand, the times when electricity is most expensive, and when generators run hardest and emit the most pollutants. But we must put the right frameworks in place.

We also need to confront pollution from our existing generation system directly. Area residents have legitimate concerns about emissions such as soot, particulates and other pollutants produced when diesel and heavy fuel oils are burnt — and how they affect air quality and respiratory health. That means requiring transparent emissions monitoring and public reporting, stricter local emissions standards, and short-term mitigation measures while we accelerate cleaner alternatives.

The Belco power plant is in a high-density residential area. It is a perfect storm. Despite what it considers to be best efforts, there are still obvious issues which are a clear and present danger to residents. Belco has made it clear that it wants to be part of the solution. It would therefore seem sensible to invest in cleaner-burning technologies, such as liquefied natural gas, and work closely with the Regulatory Authority to reduce local impacts on burning of heavy fuel oil even faster.

Consideration of incentives for efficient appliances and light bulbs would immediately reduce household bills, as would different pricing tiers for time-of-day usage like in other jurisdictions. Efficiency is often overlooked because it lacks the glamour of big projects, but it is the low-hanging fruit that benefits the most people fastest. We should roll out targeted efficiency programmes with accessible financing options so that upgrades are not only for those who can afford them up front.

We must be mindful of pace and cost, but not at the expense of clean air. Start with projects that clearly deliver savings, resilience and pollution reductions: targeted rooftop programmes, efficiency initiatives, and pilot storage projects tied to critical infrastructure. Require Belco to publish emissions data daily and implement further short-term controls.

Finally, this is about stewardship. Bermuda’s economy depends on our environment and our reputation for stability. Investing in clean, resilient energy systems and tackling local pollution is both prudent economic management and responsible guardianship of our island. We owe it to future generations to make choices that protect them from escalating costs, poorer air quality, and a more volatile climate. We can hardly host climate summits while in the skyline we see Belco stacks generating soot.

If we act now with a practical, people-centred strategy that holds Belco accountable for its local impacts, we can reduce bills, improve reliability, clean our air, create good jobs and build a more sustainable future. Let us move from debate to delivery for the sake of our families, our businesses, our health and the island we call home.

• Michael Fahy is the Shadow Minister of Municipalities, Housing and Home Affairs, and the MP for Pembroke South West (Constituency 20)