CUC goes to New Zealand to find new energy VP
(CNS): CUC has announced a new senior appointment to help the monopoly power provider on Grand Cayman transition to a lower carbon future. According to a press release the firm, well-known for employing Caymanians in senior positions as well as among the rank and file this time CUC went ‘to New ‘down-under’ and found Dr Stephen Jay who was recruited from Transpower New Zealand Ltd.
He has taken up the post of Vice President of Energy Operations and Richard Hew, CUC’s President and Chief Exective Officer said they were pleased to have him join the company.
“His expertise and knowledge gained in New Zealand are a welcomed addition to the CUC team as we transition to a low carbon energy future,” Hew stated.
The release said Jay holds a doctorate in electrical and mechanical engineering and “brings a wealth of knowledge with over 30 years’ experience in strategy development, asset management, electricity markets and regulation, renewable generation development and technological innovation.”
Jay was described as having strong leadership skills, experience in active collaboration with the New Zealand market regulator including the development of renewable energy systems and assistance with positioning the country for a lower carbon emission future.
As the President of the Electricity Engineers Association, a national not-for-profit organisation that represents the self-governance, safety and asset management best practice for the generation, distribution and transmission companies in New Zealand, he provided insight into renewable energy thought leadership, technology integration and asset management.
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Category: Business, Fuel, Local News
Companies like CUC are facing pressure, with the looming threat of bankruptcy via sanctions if they don’t dismantle their business models and align with the net-zero agenda. Non-compliance means they won’t receive funding or access to other financial services. Even entities like CIMA have joined the Greening NGFS, indicating an imminent adoption of ESG and other #UN2030 mandates. Our government departments are gradually undergoing transformations similar to what this individual is currently executing at CUC.
In this case, it’s essential to recognize that politicians haven’t been granted constitutional permission to enforce the agendas of these NGOs. The directives from these organizations could result in considerable hardship, surpassing the typical cost of living expenses on our island. The emphasis on climate change, perceived as a total scam, raises concerns. There’s a need for someone to elucidate the extent of land and tree destruction required to implement the vast number of solar panels needed to replace our current power generation footprint.
Absolute FUD. Take off the tinfoil hat. Every building has a roof, and the vast majority of them are already up to code which ensures they are sufficient to hold solar panels. Car parks can become solar farms. There are a number of solutions readily available and implemented successfully elsewhere in the world.
How do you know that is the plan and not massive 100 acres plus solar farms. And yes it would be a dream if every home and commercial complex had panels, I’m all for that but my issue is that of deliberately destroying huge segments of nature to put down solar farms, and the implementation of #UN2030 climate government that I will never agree to.
It’s going to have to be both – there’s literally not enough rooftops (structurally viable or otherwise) and unshaded carparks to meet the island’s needs.
5:12, CUC is a subsidiary of Canadian owned Fortis which is one of the largest electrical and gas utility companies in North America. The chances of CUC or Fortis going bankrupt is ZERO.
Do a bit more reading and research before you make foolish statements.
On the plus side this fellow should know how to tap into all the thermal energy that emanates from our House of Parliament.
Even Rotorua smells better than H of P
I’m sure he will enjoy the fush & chups and the odd sex pack down the rugby club although he might find the dairies a bit different.
Poor guy’s in for a huge shock at CUC when he gets there. Facing a huge elephant in room.
Whatever…thank you CUC for not bringing in another rocket scientist from Jamaica.
That’s why they chose a permit holder. He’s easier to keep the reins on or he’s back to NZ. Anyone who thinks he can implement his own ideas from back home is a fool.
Woe is the poor overpaid executive immigrant that will indubitably be responsible for less than they were at their previous job (simply due to scale, if not being “token” like you imply), who likely gets paid well enough to retire early in one of the most in-demand locations on the entire planet.
Most wish they had those kind of problems.
Climate Change hitman.
New Zealand is such a beautiful unspoiled country with so much to see and do. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to come here from there.
Fleeing Socialism.
11:15, New Zealand has a right of centre government. Certainly not socialist.
He’s a hippy you muppet!
7:45, Yeah, would have preferred a rasta man.
Says the person that will one day flee rising sea level thanks to… capitalism
Someone will have to but it won’t be anyone currently here.
3:45, That’s what they said a decade ago in the Florida Keys. Now a number of my friends are abandoning their homes / condos.
Don’t be so smug about our situation here. Perhaps take a trip to the Florida Keys and see what is going on just a couple of hundred miles north of Grand Cayman.
Please leave the country then. I have no time for people like you.
You are not making sense. Please explain your remark?
…. because there was nobody qualified to run this islands power that is already here. Just think about that, and understand the level of problem in which we’ve now degraded.
who’re “we”? Caymanians? If so, you’re not degraded. The pool of licensed, qualified and experienced professionals in any fields is depleted or never existed.
To get Public Transportation System up and running YOU will need expertise you don’t have. That includes (to say the least) full size commercial bus drivers, daily inspection and maintenance staff, repair facility what has qualified and experienced mechanics, parts and equipment . The whole new system must be created from scratch You would need expats for that or start (send to) training Caymanians NOW.
To built and run WtE Plant you will need and ARMY of expats, who are highly experienced in building, running, maintaining, monitoring, compliance enforcement, toxic ash utilization etc. THERE ARE NO,ZERO, NADA in Cayman and never will be .
So plan on adding at least 10K (plus families) new expats to your population, if you can find them, for the market for these specialists is very tight.
To enforce compliance with Laws and Regulations CIG must first enact Laws and Regulations pertaining to WtE Plant, Clean Air Act etc. In the US and Europe and everywhere else these regulations are thousands pages long.
These are just 2 examples why the life as you know it in Cayman 100% depends on the imported expertise.
Maybe he’ll recommend some of the power saving measures he did in New Zealand when he was a boss of Transpower there. Switching off lights and timing your wash and cutting edge stuff like that……
Timing makes no difference here, the rate is the same. In other countries electricity is offered at a cheaper rate in off peak times for which another meter may be installed.
I find i am adding more deterrent lights and cameras because of the rise in thieves and break-ins to houses and cars.
cuc cult…dont apply if your a caymanian for sure.
4.38pm Blatantly untrue. CUC are the only company on island who still hire, train, promote and retain Caymanians.
They couldn’t find a suitable Caymanian for this role?
I would have thought there would be someone waiting to fill the role rather than needing to bring in another expat…
Raise your hand if you have a doctorate in electrical and mechanical engineering with over 30 years’ experience.
Experience loses relevance after 15 years, particularly in a technology dependent and rapidly advancing field.
experience in a country that boasts >80% renewable energy sourcing.
It’s a good move but I doubt he lasts long if he actually wants to make progress. Either he’s happy with the pay or he moves on when he realizes CUC aren’t actually serious about progressing to a renewable energy future
Wait until the natives get their teeth into him. Another one bites the dust I would guess.
We like to do that here. Run people out of town whilst proclaiming “this is how we have always done it”.
I think the point might be that not so long ago one of CUC’s very senior VP’s (Caymanian born and educated until University) left to go run TECO’s Green Energy business in Florida. That is a company with more than a million customers, so a little more involved that what CUC has been doing. He didn’t get that role because he was Caymanian.
CUC has very high Caymanian employment, so I doubt this decision was made lightly. I would also expect there will be a training and transitional plan for the same reason.
It may also be helpful to bring in top people from places further along than us to build out and operate the greener grid we would like to see. JPS did this with their CEO recently and I expect it will be very useful for their future plans.
“Caymanian” is not a qualification…
They had Kenny in their sights, but he is a bit swamped running tings over at Cayman Air & O.R.I.A.