Belize gets sunshine all year round, with no shortage there. But somehow we’re still not making the most of it when it comes to true energy independence. All across the country, homes and businesses with grid-tied solar systems are quietly sending clean electricity into the national grid. No “thank you”, no recognition and definitely no compensation. That’s energy we didn’t have to import. That’s homegrown power helping us rely less on Mexico, which currently supplies over a third of what we use. Every solar panel installed is one step toward keeping more energy dollars right here in Belize.
In places like the United States, folks who invest in solar actually get rewarded through net metering. Their excess energy goes back to the grid, and they see it reflected in their bills. But Belize doesn’t have that. BEL’s grid wasn’t designed to support decentralized energy, and without smart meters or automated systems, tracking individual contributions is tough. But it’s more than just a technical gap, there's also a policy gap. The Public Utilities Commission still hasn’t rolled out a formal net metering system, which means BEL has no requirement to compensate those feeding power back in. That kind of silence sends a message: “Choosing solar isn’t worth it.”
I know because I recently decided to go solar myself. The process has been slow, tangled in approvals and unclear requirements. Still, it’s a move that feels both practical and principled. It’s about lowering costs, reducing emissions and taking part in the kind of energy future I believe Belize should be building. But once my system is up and running, feeding clean power back to the grid, it’ll happen without acknowledgment. That’s not just discouraging, it’s proof that our clean energy system needs a rethink.
Belize talks big about renewable energy in national plans and public campaigns, but when it comes to actually supporting its citizens, the incentives fall flat. Some financial institutions push solar financing programs that sound great, yet they haven’t taken the leap themselves. How can they promote sustainability, while staying dependent on conventional energy? There’s a disconnect there, and a pretty loud one.
If financial institutions really want to be a part of transforming Belize’s energy landscape, they’ve got to step up. That means installing their own systems, reshaping their portfolios to support sustainable infrastructure and actively pushing for the kinds of policies that reward environmental responsibility. Sunlight is free. Clean energy should be too, in spirit and in structure. Belizeans making the switch to solar shouldn’t have to watch their efforts vanish without a trace.
We need a smarter, more supportive framework. One that brings banks, regulators, utilities and citizens onto the same page. And if Belize is serious about hitting that highly ambitious 75% renewable energy target by 2030, then institutions, especially those accredited by the Green Climate Fund, can’t just sit on the sidelines managing money. They need to lead. They need to advocate. And they need to stand with people who’ve already chosen to walk the walk.
At Wildstar Solutions, we are ready to help build that framework. Wasting sunlight is a missed opportunity. So is failing to support the people working to create the future Belize keeps imagining.
