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| Wind turbines on the Danish island of Samso(ø) |
(GoldenAgeOfGaia) When I was a young girl, we used to sail up and down the New England coast in the summer time. We visited many tiny islands on our journey, and it was always interesting to see how islanders lived. Some islands catered to tourists and others were still based in fishery culture. I loved those wild and free islands the best.
In 1977, we approached Cuttyhunk, which is the first island in the chain of dots that connects to the land mass of Cape Cod. There, atop the peak of the island was a giant windmill. It was a prototype turbine, installed by WTG Energy Systems. It looked so majestic rising to dwarf the rest of the island. When we hiked up to see it, the scale was even more pronounced. This thing was immense, and the island expected the 200KW wind turbine to generate a significant portion of its energy. Today, that original turbine is gone. When oil prices went down in the 80’s, governmental subsidies shifted away from sustainable energy and everyone went back to business as usual.
With a push towards sustainability, green energy and support of the environment, forward thinking municipalities are realizing that renewable energy will give them returns, no matter what happens to the supply of fossil fuels.
A small island called Samsø, off the coast of Denmark, began working on green energy sustainability in 1997. Using a combination of wind and solar generators for electricity, and geothermal and plant based sources for heating, they gained energy independence in 2005. They produce more energy than they use, and ship the excess to the mainland via an 11 mile long cable. They sell the overage to the national power grid, and this helps to financially support the islanders who have a co-operative vested interest in the project. Samso(ø) islanders have also created an energy academy, where they train students and utility employees to use the sustainable techniques that the island employs. A group from the islands off the US coast of Maine, recently visited the academy, and this article details their experience.
The technology is available. The means to generate energy using nature, is available. To create a bright energy future, all must be willing to turn away from the cheapest option at the present moment. In the building and replacement of energy infrastructure, it is key to focus on the most viable and sustainable option that will eventually generate the greenest outcome for the whole world.
Green Energy Inspiration off the coast of Denmark by Diane Cardwell for the NY Times
