From Earth We Are One, January 7, 2016

Anti-Media reported that earlier this year, Costa Rica really wanted to focus on becoming independent of fossil fuels by heavily utilizing power from renewable energy. Costa Rica plans to utilize the region’s hefty rainfall as a power source of impressive new hydroelectric infrastructure. Aside from that, the country also plans to use geothermal sources, the wind, biomass, and solar energy.

According to Treehugger.com, Costa Rica has successfully achieved a very surprising 99% renewable energy production rate in 2015. As a matter of fact, ICE (Costa Rican Electricity Institute), which is the biggest electricity provider, issued an assertion claiming that Costa Rica with its efforts was completely fossil-fuel free for the course of 285 days of the year of 2015.

Incredibly, it reached the 99% renewable energy mark with the help of hydroelectric plants, the wind, biomass, and solar power. Alongside to those aids, its large river system also contributed to the efforts despite the fact that 2015 was a dry year for Costa Rica.

According to ICE, Costa Rica still has bigger goals to yet aim for a 100% carbon neutral status approximately by 2021. In regards to this, it also wants to shift its transportation industry far away from fossil fuels. Lastly, it also wants to incorporate new geothermal sources which are now currently providing 15% of the nation’s energy.

ICE electricity division chief, Luis Pacheco, noted,

“[Costa Rica is] closing 2015 with renewable electricity milestones that have put us in the global spotlight.”

Pacheco further predicted that 2016 would essentially be more renewable-friendly since rainfall is expected to be heavier and a new $2.3 billion hydroelectric plant will come online.

Like many other Latin American Countries, Costa Rica has been noted for leading the way specifically in hydroelectric and renewable energy. In addition, other countries like Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, and Finland are demonstrating a variety of strategies for the country to not use fossil fuels as they pollute the environment with carbon emissions as well as waste.

Sources: myscienceacademy.org