power lines and wind turbines over a solar field at sunset

Electricity

A High-Renewables Tomorrow, Today: El Hierro, Canary Islands

Many islands are blessed with large amounts of sun, wind, and water, making renewable energy a promising solution. One small island off the coast of Africa has embraced these resources, most notably through an innovative hybrid hydro-wind system.

Let’s Celebrate, Not Lament, Renewables’ Disruption of Electric Utilities

Renewables are making headway in Europe and bringing a low-carbon electricity system to the forefront. Renewables were 69 percent of new capacity added in 2012 in Europe and 49 percent in the United States. Not surprisingly, this threatens utilities unwilling to let go of outmoded business models and fossil-fuel generation.

The Road to Clean-Energy Islands

Last year more than 25 million tourists visited the Caribbean’s islands, drawn in part to the region’s sandy beaches and breathtaking sunsets. Though many consider it a tropical paradise, the Caribbean’s 40 million residents know that such positives also come at great cost: dependence on expensive, imported fossil fuel for energy generation.

Caribbean Leaders Gathering on Necker

This week, Rocky Mountain Institute joins the Carbon War Room at Creating Climate Wealth, an invitation-only conference in the Caribbean bringing together island leaders to plan and create a clean energy future. In this guest post, Sir Richard Branson talks about why he's so excited about the effort. Tomorrow, RMI principal Karen Crofton will add her perspective.