There has been an entirely predictable reaction from Pembroke residents to the plans by Bermuda Electric Light Company for a new power house on the utility's Serpentine Road plant.

And in this case, to borrow a favourite Government phrase, this is not a "Not in my backyard" (Nimby) reaction, because Belco already is in their back yard.

As a result of the plans, Belco has been accused of not exploring alternative forms of energy sufficiently.

This is not entirely fair. Belco is working hard on harnessing ocean currents to provide power, and is also examining how to enable more people to use solar power and how to bring private producers' excess into the power grid.

These are technically difficult areas and will inevitably take time.

Belco has also held talks with the Bermuda Land Development Company, the West End Development Corporation and hotels about setting up small power plants, some of which would generate heat and power, but these talks too are complex and likely to take time.

It is possible to criticise Belco for not getting on with some of these ideas sooner when oil prices were lower and Bermuda had more land to use, although it has worked hard to encourage people to reduce their energy use.

That, in the end, is the problem for Belco, as it is for other institutions in Bermuda. With finite land space and a growing economy and demand, these kinds of disputes will become more, not less, frequent.

For those who, with justice, would like to see Bermuda reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and better use of alternative energy sources, now is the time to approach Belco or to make every effort to reduce energy use.

The alternative is that Belco will have to go ahead with its plans, or force the public to endure brownouts and power outages in a few short years.