Renewables have been a matter of political discussions in Trinidad and Tobago for more than twenty years. To date, however, no comprehensive policies, or consistent elements leading to their creation, have been adopted. The intent of this paper is to demonstrate that key incentives which might trigger a radical change, eventually moving Trinidad and Tobago towards renewable technologies (RT), already exist.However, a paradigm shift in the conception of a new energy policy is needed. It is envisaged that this could be achieved by linking RT to Trinidad and Tobago’s other objectives and strategies for national and regional development. The approach is to consider the possible strategic role of renewables for the future sustainable development of the country, by highlighting the benefits of such a sub sector and its multiple, potential, economic and social linkages in the current local and regional context.Therefore, this paper not only considers the current economic, social, and political situation in Trinidad and Tobago, including the role of the energy sector in national development and the strategies to increase national competitiveness and economic sustainability, but also the regional energy market, including the social, economic and geopolitical implications of regional energy strategies.