Lorain County Could Follow Portugal’s Lead and Embrace Solar Power
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Tue, Aug 31, 2010
The power of solar energy to change the world is being demonstrated in Portugal and could serve as a model for Lorain County and the U.S. Just five years ago, this small Mediterranean nation sandwiched between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean began a concerted nationwide effort to convert the majority of its energy supplies from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Today, solar, wind and hydropower provide 45% of the electricity used in the country’s homes, offices, retail centers and factories. In a country where electricity costs twice as much as we pay in Lorain County, solar arrays are now providing cheap electric power to major metropolitan areas like Lisbon, as well as small, remote mountain villages.
How Portugal Became a “Go Green” Country
In order to accomplish such a major national energy makeover in such a short time, Portugal had to restructure energy utilities to create a dependable power grid suited to renewable energy sources. New transmission lines were built to bring solar and wind energy from remote areas to city centers. Government subsidies, long-term contracts with price protections, and financial incentives were used to lure private firms to Portugal’s growing renewable energy industry. A complex computer system was created that tracks the weather systems that fuel much of the country’s renewable energy. The system constantly adjusts the flow of electricity from myriad energy sources, directing electricity where it is needed most.
Oil Spill Pushes U.S. Towards Using Renewable Energy
The incentive to replace fossil fuel consumption with renewable energy sources is admittedly higher in Europe where countries like Portugal have few fossil fuel natural resources. The disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has emphasized the risk of relying on fossil fuels and may encourage U.S. and Lorain County government officials to do more to develop sustainable power sources. Lorain County residents can take a personal stand and cut their personal energy bill by nearly 50% by installing an energy-efficient solar water heater.
