23-MW Wind Farm Launched in Puerto Rico

August 24th, 2012 by Jake Richardson

Punta de Lima wind farm at Naguabo near El Yunqe National Forest in eastern coastal Puerto Rico is under construction and nearing the half-way completion mark. Five of the thirteen turbines are in place. An estimated 9,000 homes could be powered by the new wind farm, providing there are consistent winds.

Electricity is expected to be generated for residents beginning in October. Spain’s Gestamp Wind is the company responsible for the farm’s construction. (The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s wind resource map shows high high crest ridges and capes have the best wind potential in Puerto Rico.)

Fossil fuels constitute over 90% of Puerto Rico’s energy sources. About 70% of the island country’s electricity is generated from imported foreign oil.

Consequently, Puerto Ricans pay very high prices for electricity. The nation’s resident commissioner, Pedro R. Pierluisi, has said dependence on foreign oil is the country’s greatest barrier to economic development.

The Puerto Rican government has goals of generating 12% of its energy from renewable sources by 2015. The goal for 2020 is 15%.

According to the report, Achievable Renewable Energy Targets For Puerto Rico’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, about 33% of Puerto Rico’s 2006 total energy consumption could have been met by a combination of solar and wind power, based on the potential for each of those clean energy technologies. While 2006 obviously will probably be different than 2012 and going forward, at least there is one example of the impact clean energy could have.

Image Credit: Jack Morelock, Recinto University of Mayaguez

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Tags: Puerto Rico, puerto rico clean energy, Puerto Rico wind power

About the Author

Jake Richardson Hello, I have been writing online for some time, and enjoy the outdoors. If you like, you can follow me on Google Plus.

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Seaboundhome

I sail into Bahia Lima and have spent the night there a number of times. This spring I wondered where the cattle went and what the construction on the other side of the peninsula was, now I know. The pic is from the bay looking NE across the saddle to the peninsula. Beautiful place. I hope this side of the peninsula remains unchanged. SV Sea Bound
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Yep. Hope no one builds a big diesel generation plant or fuel dock on that beautiful peninsula.