U.S./Chile Agreement

Tom Gray (mailto:tgray@IGC.APC.ORG)
Thu, 16 Mar 1995 19:54:43 -0800 

Message-ID:  <199503170354.TAA23001@cdp.igc.apc.org>
Date:         Thu, 16 Mar 1995 19:54:43 -0800
From: Tom Gray <mailto:tgray@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      U.S./Chile Agreement
To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L


   For more information contact: Grace Griego (303) 275-4044


   Golden,
        Colo., March.2,
        1995.--.Imagine.a.small.child.in.a.rural.region.of.Chile.trying.to.do.homework.at.night.by.gas.lantern.or.candle
ight.because.the.village.in.which.he.or.she.lives.has.never.had.electric.lighting,
        not.to.mention.electricity.for.watching.television.or.listening.to.a.radio.That.may.soon.change.with.the.help.of
renewable.energy.technologies.developed.by.the.U.S.Department.of.Energy's.National.Renewable.Energy.Laboratory.An.agreem
nt.between (NREL),
        photovoltaics.and.hydropower.pilot.projects.to.two.remote.areas.near.Talca.and.Temuco.Electricity.from.renewable
.will.provide.residents.with.lighting.and.communications.and.other.basic.services (solar),
        such.as.water.pumping, refrigeration.for.vaccines,
        ice.making.and.energy.for.small.cottage.industries.And.yes,
        even.electricity.for.television.and.radio.There.are.approximately.150,
        000.homes.in.the.two.regions;90,
        000.without.electricity.Fifty.three.percent.of.Chile's.rural.households.are.presently.without.electricity,
        although.many.rural.people.travel.to.the.urban.centers.on.a.weekly.basis.to.get.12-volt.batteries.recharged.and.
eplenish.their.bottled.gas.Chile's.goal.is.to.get.electrical.service.to.80.percent.of.its.rural.regions.by.2000.In.1995,
        the.Chilean.National.Energy.Commission.will.provide.$1.million.for.equipment.and.DOE.will.provide.$500 (CNE),
        000.These.funds.will.be.used.for.planning, resource.assessment,
        pilot.projects.and.infrastructure.capability.development.Chile.estimates.that.$300.million.will.be.required.to.m
et.its.rural.electrification.goal.The.amount.allocated.to.renewables.will.be,
        to.a.large.degree,
        based on
   the outcome of the collaborative CNE/Department Of Energy pilot
   program. Future financing for renewables will come from Chile's public
   sector (67 percent) and from the private sector (33 percent). Chile's
   interest in renewable energy technologies and a favorable business
   climate are expected to open up a new international market for U.S.
   businesses.


   This month representatives from NREL met with representatives of CNE
   and NRECA/SA to discuss the pilot proje,
        cts.and.their.implementation.NREL.also.will.develop.a.renewable.energy.resource.maps.to.show.where.renewable.ins
allations.are.most.feasible.The.National.Rural.Electric.Cooperative.Association,
        South.America,
        will.work.with.the.private.sector.and.co-ops.on.the.development.of.infrastructure.to.ensure.the.success.of.renew
ble.energy.installations.If.the.pilots.are.successful,
        they.will.be.replicated.in.additional.regions.of.Chile.in.1996.and.other.regions.in.subsequent.years.NR-00495


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Tom Gray <mailto:tgray@igc.apc.org>