Cat Island United (CIU) proposes to lead a comprehensive initiative to mainstream solar energy on Cat Island through capacity building, education and installations to improve livelihoods and reduce dependence on diesel generated power. The project targets small business owners, farmers, tradespersons, schools and indigent without access to electricity. In the first year, CIU would organize training, education and demonstration projects. These would include a workshop for small business owners to understand the costs and benefits of switching to solar; education of youth at the high school level, installation of solar powered drip irrigation systems and small residential systems for the poor. In addition, CIU would explore innovative financing possibilities with Bank of Bahamas and BEC. The second year would focus on training local tradespersons to install and maintain solar through a workshop and installation in a public building.

As background, a diesel-generated electrical grid was installed on Cat Island about twenty-five years ago and there is a single electrical power line, which runs along the main road from north to south and is often down due to regular maintenance, accidents or hurricanes. Electricity does not reach farms or homes off the main road. The cost of electricity is burdensome for businesses, some of which have closed due to the high running cost. There is currently one business, a resort, running on solar and about five homes have full or partial solar solutions. Small business owners have expressed interest in switching.