Portugal is Green

Obama is looking like a sure thing from the Democrats. We are into what I call the ultra snippy phase of the presidential campaign. The snipping and allegations are coming from all sides and going in all directions. Does anyone actually care?

Regardless, I am thinking about Portugal. Is this the country to move to in the event of a McCain presidency.

BBC: Green energy wins over Portugal

Glittering panels are being mounted on frames the size of tennis courts, then planted in lines facing the sun.

...Portugal has embraced renewable energy, pushing it near the top of the European league. The UK only gets 5% of its electricity from renewables, while Portugal already gets 39%.

The Portuguese government is relying on the new dams to keep supply and demand in balance. Hydro-electric capacity will be boosted by 50%.

Right now, 39% of their power comes from renewable sources, that is what you read.

Their goal is to get to 45% by 2010.

Portugal's green energy revolution has also created thousands of jobs. What other country could use that. Must be one someplace.

Portugal's use of green energy has paid dividends to American companies.

Energy Photovoltaics, Inc. (EPV), a solar energy manufacturer in New Jersey, has joined in the creation of a new joint venture company, Solar Plus, S.A. of Lisbon, Portugal. The joint venture, which has a value in excess of $20 Million (17 Million Euros), has executed a contract with EPV that starts the first phase of development of a 5.5 megawatt (MW) thin-film photovoltaic module manufacturing facility near Aveiro in the central coast of Portugal. This will more than triple current photovoltaic production capacity in Portugal with operations starting in early 2007. source

Portugal will be in the forefront of using a 'wave farm' as an energy source. This particular technology is being developed by Portugal, they are in the vanguard.

Atlantic Ocean waves are to light up 1,500 homes in the north of Portugal. The first 2.25 megawatts of electricity produced from wave power will be brought ashore at Aguçadoura, on the northern coast, as of October.

A submarine cable will bring the electrical energy ashore, and will feed directly into the national distribution grid controlled by the state-run Energias de Portugal (EDP) company.

It is a modest quantity, but it is the first stage of "the first power plant in the world to use waves as a source of renewable energy..." source