Electricity
A High-Renewables Tomorrow, Today: El Hierro, Canary Islands
Many islands are blessed with large amounts of sun, wind, and water, making renewable energy a promising solution. One small island off the coast of Africa has embraced these resources, most notably through an innovative hybrid hydro-wind system.
Let’s Celebrate, Not Lament, Renewables’ Disruption of Electric Utilities
Renewables are making headway in Europe and bringing a low-carbon electricity system to the forefront. Renewables were 69 percent of new capacity added in 2012 in Europe and 49 percent in the United States. Not surprisingly, this threatens utilities unwilling to let go of outmoded business models and fossil-fuel generation.
A High-Renewables Tomorrow, Today: Varese Ligure, Italy
Varese Ligure, Italy, a charming town of pastel-colored houses which reinvented itself into a sustainable tourist destination with renewable energy and organic farming.
Innovative Third-Party Financing Makes Solar Affordable—For All
Ten years ago many Americans couldn’t afford to buy a solar electric system for their home. Today, many consumers still can’t stomach the steep sticker price, even if it offers the promise of low-cost, clean renewable energy in the long term.
A High-Renewables Tomorrow, Today: Gaviotas, Colombia
The plains of eastern Colombia are a tough land—the haunt of drug trafficking, guerilla warfare, and paramilitary groups; a place where the soil is so poor everyone said nothing could grow. Paolo Lugari, the founder of the 200-person community of Gaviotas, believed otherwise. In the face of adversity, he built a thriving, self-sustaining community.
