Global Warming in Dominican Republic
Global Warming To Eliminate Tourism in the Caribbean - 12/30/07
In the Caribbean, tourism accounts for 15% of the gross domestic product, with higher rates in many islands, and over 2.4 million jobs (about 16%). It has also pushed populations towards the coasts. For example, in the Dominican Republic, over 50% of the population lives near coasts where a 6-m sea-level rise would plunge them into the sea.
Recently, the Dominican government received a report detailing that, under their estimates, sea-level will rise by 6 meters under business-as-usual by 2050, eliminating the tourism industry and sending the country into complete chaos.
The fast development the region is seeing may be completely obliterated by global warming, and the same case goes for much of the rest of the developing world. The outcome would be to put billions of people in situations of poverty, hunger, and violence.
There are good reasons why people in the developing world should have high hopes. One reason is that, aside from what governments are doing (whether it be block negotiations or push for tough measures), industries are rushing towards making a profit out of solving the climate, and that's a great thing. Companies like Ausra, eSolar, Solel, Nanosolar, Google, Honda, GE, Vestas, Aracruz, and many others are working hard to make renewable energy, transportation, and products cheap, feasible, and appropriate for smart, sustainable development.
Renewable Energy in LAC: The Dominican Republic Set To Lead - 10/3/07
President of that country, Dr. Leonel Fernandez, signed a renewable energy law passed by the Congress. After 6 years of meetings and drafts and building support, it finally passed. Within a year of the idea that the law was going to definitely pass under Fernandez' administration, a Spanish company invested E$100 million in solar cell production, wind companies announced over 400MW of planned installations, the Brazilian company Infinity Bio-Energy announced an investment of $200 million in a large ethanol plant, and lots of small solar and wind energy subsidiaries have been set up in the country.
With over 25,000MW of wind potential in less than 3% of the land (over 60,000MW in 9% of the land) and an infinite supply of sunlight (sunny Caribbean), the potential is there for the country to meet all its energy needs from renewables.
Before specifying what the law does, it's important to mention the fact that the government is committing to paying for what the incentives described below on top of all the problems the country has. Among them are an unemployment rate of 15%, a per capita GDP of just over $8,000 (though growing at 10%), some 25% of the population in poverty, a relatively high crime rate, congestion in large cities, high energy costs and power blackouts, many urban areas without potable water or paved roads, and an education system that is not near the best it can be.
On the fuels side, they have lots of incentives for ethanol and biodiesel production, including the 100% tax exemptions. Brazil and Chile are therefore very interested in producing ethanol in the country. The law mandates that all gasoline sold in the country be blended with a 10% mix, with higher blends to come.
