Wind Power Potential in Belize Wind power is one of the fastest growing renewable energy technologies in the world, with an annual growth rate of 30.7 percent (Flomenhoft, 2007). Its popularity stems from its renewable characteristics, emission free properties and the cheap electricity that it produces. Thus far, Belize has not harnessed the wind energy in the country which I believe is unfortunate. Approximately 50% of Belize?s electricity production is imported from Mexico (Launchpad consulting, 2003). Hydro accounts for 25%, diesel makes 20%, bagasse, produced by the local sugar industry creates 5% and a mere 0.03% is produced through using solar and wind power combined (Launchpad consulting, 2003). I personally feel as though it would be in the country?s, as well as the world?s best interest if this number increased drastically. This essay will examine the potential for wind energy production in Belize. As a general rule, wind turbines are practical to install where the average wind speed is at least 16km per hour (www.canwea.ca). Such conditions are found in Belize on both the coast and in mountainous regions. The peak power of electricity in Belize is sixty-eight megawatts (Flomenhoft, 2007). A quarter of all of the electricity is run on hydro (Launchpad consulting, 2003), which is a renewable energy and is difficult to reverse, therefore it would be wise to continue using hydro. I believe that it would be sensible to stop importing half of the country?s electricity from Mexico, as it leaves the country vulnerable to price changes that are uncontrollable. A wind mapping report of Central America suggested that Belize has potential to produce 3800 MW in total between the coastal and mountain regions (Swer... ... middle of paper ... ... all of Belize?s power is being produced by water and wind, this could be a great marketing tool for the ecotourists who are ?thinking green?. Thinking big in a small country can be difficult in the beginning but can pay off in the long run. It this case, I believe it would. References Canadian Wind Energy Association. Retrieved April 1, 2007 from: www.canwea.ca. Energy for Sustainable Development Toward a National Energy Strategy for Belize, Energy Sector Diagnostic (2003). Launchpad Consulting in Collaboration with Dr. Ivan Azurdia-Bravo. Flomenhoft, G. (2007, January & March) Energy Alternatives Lectures, Galen University, Belize. Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment. Retrieved April 1, 2007 from: www.swera.unep.net. Windfinder. Retrieved April1, 2007 from: http://www.windfinder.com/.
Belize is also very open and out of the closet. The way he speaks to people clearly indi...
Kincaid makes strong arguments against tourism and tourist, especially those that vacation in Antigua. The problem with her argument (despite the fact that she acknowledges that tourists are only a small part of the problem in comparison to things like the government’s attitude) is that it puts a responsibility on tourists that they are not inclined to consider. It is not the job of the tourists to save Antigua, in fact (as harsh as it may sound), it is not even a responsibility of a tourist to consider the internal issues within a land they choose to visit. With that in mind, creating an Antigua that is truly beautiful and a place where the natives are treated well is not only primarily a responsibility of the natives and government; it is only the responsibility of the natives and the government.
...rican countries have forests that supply a variety of lumber, Costa Rica is known for its concern and protection efforts to preserve its forests. Despite the abundance of farming in Costa Rica, “Tourism earns more foreign exchange than bananas and coffee combined.” (Neal 554)
With concern over global warming growing, people are starting to turn a more serious eye toward cleaner sources of energy. Instead of solar power making a comeback as the ideal form, we are seeing a growth in the use of wind power. Wind farms are beginning to crop up all around the country. This new trend has gathered significant attention. Questions are being raised concerning the effects wind farms may have, from critics and supporters alike. Michelle Nijhuis, in the article “Selling the Wind” discusses the arguments on behalf of and in opposition to the increasing use of wind power, addressing what the consequences may be on the United States.
Wind Energy is a viable industry that has become a valuable energy source. The energy generated from wind is clean and efficient. The wind energy industry helps to ensure that electric demands are met, wildlife impact is minimal, the environment is not devastated, as well as creates new jobs during the construction of wind farms, daily operations, manufacturing components, and exporting components to foreign countries.
Urban area has been defined as a terrain with a population of 50,000 or a bunch of 2,500 to 50,000 people according to the US Census Bureau. Rural is later defined as anything external to that definition. Particular challenges are faced by rural areas when matter is of energy and water usage. For instance, utilities have to pay higher costs to modernize their energy groundwork and often find it stiffer to implement cleaner technologies because of the great distances between customers and crooked patchwork of reliable resources. Moreover, many system organizers and thought leaders for ground breaking energy know how live in suburban or urban areas and may discover it tougher to relate to the particular challenges of rural locations.
Wind turbines are a great source of energy all around the world. Wind Turbines produce wind energy that can be used to power our homes. Wind turbines convert Kinetic energy into mechanical power. Then this mechanical power gets generated into electricity. Wind turbines make energy by the wind turning the large blades, which spin a shaft that is connected to the large blades, which then operates the generator making electricity. One new idea is building wind turbines offshore in the mid-Atlantic. Offshore building of wind turbines means that these large turbines will be placed in the Atlantic Ocean. The building of these wind turbines will provide energy to states like Maryland, Delaware, New York, Virginia, and New Jersey. These states want to start this project as soon as possible so that the states can start saving money. Since these regions right now are burning fossil fuels uncontrollably with incredible impacts (not only to our air, but to our health) it is crucial to start right away. Offshore wind turbines will provide more jobs, cut pollution, stop warming of our planet, and save us energy costs. These wind turbines can make enough energy offshore to power about 500,000 thousand homes. However, many people disagree with this idea because they believe it is too expensive.
Barbados is recognized as a leader in addressing the concerns of SIDS and was instrumental in drafting the widely adopted policy for sustainable development strategies in SIDS, called the Barbados Programme of Action. In terms of sustainable coastal tourism objectives, these are addressed indirectly through the Physical Development Plan and national development policy instruments, but they are regionally acclaimed for their coastal zone management practices (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2000; Scruggs & Bassett, 2013).
The wind is an incredibly valuable renewable energy source and is in the forefront of renewable energy developments. It is used to convert wind energy into energy that can be harnessed and used via a variety of methods, including; wind turbines, windmills, sails and windpumps. For a renewable energy source, however, it is wind turbines that are used to generate electricity (see figure 1). Wind power has been used for this since the end of the nineteenth century, after Professor James Blyth of the Royal College of Science and Technology first attempted it (Boyle, 2012). However, It wasn’t until the 1980s that using wind power technology was sufficient enough to experience a rapid growth of the technology.
Fletcher’s article helps to provide more of an insight on why these Caribbean countries rely on the tourism industry, giving a greater perspective of the workings of capitalism as in order to survive it must continually grow. While it is important to note that looking at one small area in the Caribbean and its impact on the tourism industry, cannot lead me to draw any general conclusions– as not every Caribbean country will react to the tourism industry in the same way - the study discussed on Jamaica’s Ocho Rios still can provide perspective as to how this heavy reliance on the tourism industry can affect the social, cultural, environmental, and economic standing within such countries. Further research must be conducted on all different effects and within tourist sites in order to come to a general conclusion. Many researchers have offered frameworks on how to prevent such negative impacts from occurring, and this can be helpful for the future of this fast-growing industry. As a person who has travelled to the Caribbean quite frequently (as I have family members who reside in Barbados), because I stay with family members and thus can see the island from a local perspective, I have witnessed first hand the small ways in which the tourism industry affects a big Caribbean tourist destination such as Barbados; not just with those deemed as outsiders with the tourism industry, but those working within it.
Secondly, 15% of world electricity comes from wind. In order to have wind energy, it is important to have turbines to get the wind in order to produce electricity. Tall turbines produce more energy. The drawbacks of wind power are that it requires steady wind and its installations may interfere with TVs, cellphones, and other electrical devices. However, it is quickly built and there is no pollution or noise produced.
Wind is a form of solar energy. The term wind energy describes the process by which the wind is used to generate electricity or mechanical power. Wind turbines convert mechanical energy from the wind into electrical power. Wind turbines usually have three main parts. There are blades that connect to a central hub, a box behind the blades that contains the generator, and a long stem that connects to the ground. The way how it works is that the wind turns the blades, which spins a shaft that connects to a generator making electricity. After the electricity is produced it is sent through transmission lines to a substation that is sent to business and homes. For the sake of our planet, we must promote a renewable energy economy. Wind power can be a foundation of that sustainable energy future because it provides jobs in states that are building wind turbines, is a renewable energy source, and does not damage our environment. The environment will not be damaged by the pollution, the natural resources will not be used up, and there won’t be generating of hazardous wastes. Welcoming wind energy today will lay the foundation for a healthy tomorrow that will affect everyone in the United States. There are obstacles and challenges that will make it more difficult, but the environmental impact is well worth it to invest more money into wind energy.
Deal, W. (n.d.). Wind power: An emerging energy resource.Technology & Engineering Teacher, 70(1), 9-15. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=a747d6c4-9f9f-4066-be3e-d7d26a427ef2@sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=114&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWNvb2tpZSxpcCxjcGlkJmN1c3RpZD1zc2Mmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU=
The majority of the countries in the Caribbean region are too small to make a bold economic or political statement that is heard on the world “stage”. In particular, countries such as Belize, which are small in size and population and are extremely vulnerable to external shocks. Regionalism gives these small countries a voice. Thus, “Regionalization creates a more persuasive voice in global matters” (Development Paths in the Caribbean). Regionalization is defined by Cambridge Dictionaries as “the way that an area of the world containing several countries becomes more economically or politically important than the particular countries within that area’(Dictionary). Smaller countries, such as Belize, in the Caribbean, are