Islands
Beyond 60 Minutes: The Caribbean, Center Stage for the Soft Energy Pathway
In 1976, RMI co-founder Amory Lovins wrote “Energy Strategy: The Road Not Taken?”, which outlined his proposal for a “soft energy pathway” for global security. In an era defined by large centralized electricity generation—primarily powered by coal and nuclear energy in the United States—where power was transmitted hundreds of miles…
Implementing Puerto Rico’s Energy Transformation
Just a couple of months ago, deadly earthquakes in Puerto Rico’s south coast destroyed homes and public buildings and damaged a major power plant. This, coming after the 2017 devastating hurricane season, highlights the continued challenges of the island’s current grid and difficulty of planning for the future. Fortunately, early…
Don’t Miss RMI on 60 Minutes This Sunday!
Learn more about RMI’s work in the Caribbean We have exciting news! On Sunday March 1 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, 6 p.m. CT/MT, you can watch Rocky Mountain Institute on CBS’ 60 Minutes. Justin Locke and Chris Burgess from the Islands …
Solar Under Storm Part II: Designing Hurricane-Resilient PV Systems
The last three years have seen major hurricanes wreak havoc on island nations. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Dorian caused catastrophic damage to homes, infrastructure, and economies throughout the Caribbean basin. At the same time, the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) power is increasing on Caribbean islands—helping reduce costs and…
Puerto Rico’s Electricity System at a Crossroads
Puerto Rico’s electric system is at a crucial inflection point, with an opportunity to pivot from years of hardship—high energy costs, utility bankruptcy, the largest blackout in US history, and heavy pollution from a system 98 percent powered by fossil fuels—to a new vision that is clean, reliable, and resilient.