Bermuda Approves Plan for Liquefied Natural Gas as Main Fuel Source

The Regulatory Authority in Bermuda has approved a plan to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the island's main fuel source for generating electricity. The decision, outlined in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), is seen as a departure from previous efforts to transition to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

Eugene Dean, chairman of sustainability charity Greenrock, expressed concerns that LNG still produces harmful carbon emissions and would divert investment away from renewable projects. He argued that the IRP does not adequately account for the full life-cycle emissions associated with LNG, including methane leakage during extraction, processing, and transportation.

According to the 2026 IRP, switching to LNG as Bermuda's primary fuel source, while adding offshore wind and increasing solar capacity, would decarbonize the energy mix, improve resilience, and keep supply affordable. However, this plan is estimated to have a total expenditure of $7.85 billion by 2050, with greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 64% and renewable energy generation reaching 52%.

The RA's approval of LNG has been met with criticism from environmental groups and residents who had previously advocated for a faster transition to renewable energy sources. Minister of Home Affairs Alexa Lightbourne clarified that the Government has not committed to LNG as Bermuda's primary fuel source, citing policy objectives focused on cost, reliability, and equal access.