San Juan, Oct 20, 2008 -- EFE
The Puerto Rican government announced Monday an investment of $165 million
in 20 wind turbines with the goal of reducing its dependency on
electricity-producing oil by 20 percent before the year 2015.
Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila said that the state-owned Electric Energy
Authority, or AEE, and the Compaņia de Vientos (Wind Company) of Puerto Rico
will reach an accord for the construction of the turbines and the purchase
of wind power for 9.12 cents per kilowatt-hour, 18.58 cents below the
current price.
The AEE now pays 27.7 cents per kilowatt-hour for the energy generated by
gas turbines.
The 20 wind turbines, scheduled to begin operating in 2012, will be
installed in the northern town of Arecibo and could generate enough energy
for some 14,000 households.
"The installation and operation of the wind turbines will cause no negative
impact on the land, which can therefore be used simultaneously for
agriculture and raising livestock," Acevedo Vila said in a communique.
The governor insisted that the AEE has as its "maximum priority" lowering
the cost of electricity and cutting the island's dependency on oil for 70
percent of its energy needs. EFE
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