Tough questions attend region’s energy conversion

Solar panels serving the giant Cerro Dominador solar plant in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Like other regions of the world, Latin America faces an enormous challenge in switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy. But there’s a twist. Many experts say it must at the same time reduce its dependence on a longtime source of renewable power, too—hydroelectricity. The region prides itself on having one of the cleanest electric-power systems in the world, with 64% of its electricity coming from renewable sources. By far the most important renewable energy is hydropower, which provides about 45% of the region’s electricity. Despite the widespread acceptance of hydropower, there have long been critical voices. Philip Fearnside, Research Professor in the Department of Ecology at the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) in Manaus, Brazil, says that, contrary to widespread belief, dams cannot be considered “clean energy” as they produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. Flavio Montiel, the Brazil Program Manager of International Rivers... Read more →