Comments on: Former Costa Rican president wants to see country go “oil-free”

By: 'J' Canaan Greene

'J' Canaan Greene — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:18:37 +0000

Biofuels are not “the answer”. Perhaps in some limited, transitional capacity they could help us move away from oil to some degree or another and in this way they could be beneficial, but not as a final solution to provide for Costa Rica’s energy needs.. Rather than biofuels, which would require massive amounts of additional mono-crops that would be detrimental to the natural ecology of Costa Rica, the CR government should..

1. be focused on developing geothermal, solar and wind energy based solutions.

2. offer tax incentives to any company utilizing and/or offering electricity based alternatives to fuel based technologies.

3. remove all import costs on electricity based technologies that provide alternative solutions to fuel based technologies, and raise import taxes on petro based technologies, making green electricity based technologies more affordable than technologies that require oil and/or massive amounts of farm land to sustain the country’s energy needs.

It will take probably more than 15 years to really significantly replace the petroleum based technological infrastructure that currently exists in Costa Rica, but going towards geothermal, wind and solar electricity along with offering economic incentives that would move the country towards an increasingly electrical infrastructure based off of clean, renewable energy derived from solar, wind and geothermal would be a far superior route that could eventually be a PERMANENT solution that could potentially provide for ALL of Costa Rica’s energy needs with far less impact on Costa Rica’s environment which would be good for tourism, the economy and the Costa Rican country as a whole.

By: Patrick Smyth

Patrick Smyth — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:18:37 +0000

As much as that sounds like a perfect solution, the reality is that CR does not have the funds for this. A better immediate solution would be to invest in the infrastructure they have now. Any move to increase capacity at their current wind farms or start geothermal power stations will be a waste of time given the current state of the grid.

By: Patrick Smyth

Patrick Smyth — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:19:02 +0000

That has to be the funniest thing I have ever read. As someone in the energy field, developing investment for clean energy is extremely difficult at present.

And bio-fuels? Does he realize the acreage needed? Kiss the rest of the forests good bye.

If Costa Rica wants to use natural gas as he suggests, then they will have to open up exploration to O & G companies.

Sounds to me like he is setting up a scam to get taxpayer funds to develop his ‘Clean Energy Center.’

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:48:38 +0000

he opposes “free trade” agreements which puts him in the stupids crowd. note the other ICR article re: foreign investment. every day the planet is smaller. every day you have ignorant yahoos clamoring for protectionism and politicians playing to that sector. exiting one’s country from the world market even to small degrees does nothing but exacerbate poverty. just look at the poverty import taxes cause. you think high transportation costs due to import taxes and regulated fuels does not impoverish people then your not thinking.

By: Gordon Lindley

Gordon Lindley — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:33:35 +0000

Even IF they planted every square meter here with “‘Bio fuels”". There would not be a substantial gain. This comes from many studies. This will however cost everyone living here.For one The price of corn has jumped. It became too expensive to raise our chickens and make a little profit. He (José María Figueres) just trying to run for office or create a new party in doing so!

By: Siegfried Gust

Siegfried Gust — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:18:41 +0000

15 years seems very optimistic. I know people here in Costa Rica experimenting with Jatropha plantings for bio diesel and they just can’t produce it at a competitive price. When oil gets expensive enough, the switch to renewable fuels will happen.

By: Mickey Atkinson

Mickey Atkinson — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:48:36 +0000

Well, the man is a thief and now he sounds like a fool. He should move to Calif.