Corazon Creek Lights Up With New 24-Hour Solar Power System 

Corazon Creek Village in Toledo is set to benefit from a new, 24-hour solar-powered energy system. The official launch of the Corazon Creek Off-Grid Solar System took place on Monday, with government officials, community leaders, and representatives from the German-based CDW Foundation, which funded the project, in attendance. The system includes advanced solar photovoltaic panels, inverters, a generator, and a battery bank to provide continuous power to the community.

The project is the result of a consent agreement signed last September between Corazon Creek Village and Belize’s Ministry of Energy. According to Ministry CEO Jose Urbina, the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to expanding reliable energy access to rural communities, which is essential for economic growth, education, and improved quality of life. “I must say from earlier discussion with the chairman, sixty-five homes, a population of approximately three hundred and sixty-five persons have been impacted,” Urbina said. He added that Corazon Creek also serves as a hub for nearby communities who rely on it for education and other resources.

CDW Foundation, which began its work in Belize in 2016 with a similar solar project in La Gracia Village, continues to support the country’s clean energy goals. Sarah Link, Managing Director of CDW, shared her excitement about the positive impact of reliable electricity in Corazon Creek and the surrounding areas. “By the end of 2023, an additional thirty households had applied to be connected to the solar system, prompting an expansion of that system earlier this year to support the growing energy demand,” Link said, adding that the Ministry of Public Utilities and Belize Electricity Limited both identified the area’s strong need for dependable power, especially given its high school, which serves over 400 students.

Area Representative Dr. Osmond Martinez highlighted the transformative impact of electrification on communities, noting that access to energy can lift families out of poverty by opening new opportunities. “What electricity brings is a package. It’s a package because then you can bring telephone, internet, even industrial development, manufacturing, you know, but without electricity, we won’t be able to do that,” Dr. Martinez remarked.

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