Costa Rica went almost 3 months using only renewable energy


Last week, Costa Rica announced that it hasn't used any carbon-burning electricity since the start of 2015, thanks to a rainy winter providing plenty of fuel for its hydroelectric dams. So far, "2015 has been a year of electricity totally friendly to Costa Rica's environment," the state Costa Rican Energy Institute said in a press release.
Seventy-five days is reportedly a renewable-energy world record, and Costa Rica is planning to obliterate even its own benchmark, becoming entirely carbon-neutral by 2021. Already, last year it generated about 88 percent of its power from hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, wind, and biomass sources, and it has new geothermal plants in the works.
The benchmark hasn't been unduly onerous for Costa Rica's residents, either. As Katie Valentine notes at ThinkProgress, the bounty of hydroelectric power has prompted ICE to announce a 7 to 15 percent cut in rates for businesses and households, effective April.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
What will be Warren Buffett's legacy?
Talking Points Observers call him 'the greatest investor of all time.'
-
Art review: "Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes From Art"
Feature At the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, through Aug. 17
-
What are certificates of deposit and how do they work?
The Explainer CDs may be the right solution for your savings goals
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine