The Lebanese Government attended the International Donor Conference held in paris (Paris III) in January of 2007. These "brilliant" men suggested that in order to stimulate growth, fight poverty, and create jobs - they must continue to invest in the failed electricity sector. Rehabilitation of Jiyeh and Zouk powerplants are in order - costing $100 million each. A pipeline linking Iraqi, gulf, Egyptian or Caspian gas must be built. All ideas to ease the pain of a $40 billion national debt Lebanon owes. It is estimated by the World Bank, that with the estimated GDP growth scenarios of the nation, $1 billion is needed to accomodate the predicted electric demand by 2015. Meanwhile taxpayers are being given excuse after excuse as to why they should be paying the amount they do for "electric security". At the same time, most people's power is shut off for a period of time longer than 4 hours, (my house 3 daily) so that the foolish govt can "save the country some electricity". That is like forcing a fat person to skip lunch everyday, except in this case Lebanon is not FAT!!, its hungry but willing to wait till dinner.!!
This country is oblivious to the advantages of wind energy (as well as hydro and solar). There are a handful of organizations making moves on the topic of necessary construction in areas such as Bekaa valley, Faqra and many more. A list that most people (Lebanese especially should know) :
1) Wind energy cannot, and does not harm its surrounding natural environment. In fact, in encourages environmental conservation, cleanup and maintenance of the natural surroundings of the turbines. (Wind turbines in the sea promote keeping an eye on the sea - something much needed in Lebanon)Farmers can allow for or construct their own turbines, on their farms, thus producing independent electricity while being able to farm. (The turbines would begin as a commercial commodity, therefore the only way to gain independent electricity is through personal funding of maintenance and construction of a wind turbine - thus giving the govt one less person to supply for.)
2) There will be a surge of new technology, national awarness/education of the advantages and effects, as well as a new beggining in construction methods and ECO-FRIENDLY power projects; an unknown idea for the govt.
3) The government said it wanted to fight poverty? - is that by reducing the number of hours of shut-off electricity to 5 hours from the normal 8?. Wind turbines are set up in areas that foster the most available wind. These places are known to be the places in which relatively poorer and isolated populations live (in comparison to Beirut). By building the turbines in those areas (where the poor and the wind are) you are inevitably giving the poor the First PEICE OF THE PIE!!, they will access the collected energy power generated by the turbines first, simply because of their location. Therefore the poor families in these mountainous or coastal areas, will be able to have electricity all day and all night. With the availability of the technology, soon after they would be producing their own turbines, in a variety of fashions and methods. (wind turbines are a naturaly human form of technology - everyone knows how they work, what they can do, its all about applying, and helping-$- to allow such applications)
4) If a turbine falls appart.....so what? fix it? If a power plant on the Mediterranean falls appart (is bombed), our coasts are screwed, marine life is hurt, and the pollution of the sea gets a new face.
5) Windmills operate all day and all night, and they do not need any personel to turn the turbines.(Remember its wind energy!!!)Humans are only needed for construction, research, maintenance, and recording, as well as energy transfer from turbine to home-office-school-hospital.
Speaking of hospitals, take the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota as an example of a wind Hotspot. The great plains generate enough wind to blow your clothes off at times. In 11th grade I found out that North DAkota alone has enough wind to power 1/3 of the U.S with sufficient electricity. Just imagine a wind farm, being being in the reservation simply to power a hospital. After the first 3 years of operation, the reservation would be able to easily produce a revenue from the change; (as oppose to paying for the electricity most probably generated by the South Dakota state - not reservation "jurisdiction")A wind farm for every hospital in the poorest regions would suggest definate electric availability for the hospitals, $ revenue from the money they would have spent, promoted technology and advantages of wind energy by the example set by the hospital wind farm. Its not up the those with $ and in power to tell the people of the world that the best ways to help ourselves in terms of usable energy is by using the wonders of Earth, we as humans have known this since we were babies. Somewhere in the world, there is a boy who has built his own turbine, and researched on his own and figured out how to attach a battery or a motor to this receive the energy produced by the turbine. (similar to the mice running in the wheel to generate power, or man pedalling bicyle) Somewhere in the world is someone very poor producing his own clean energy for his own good. He does not have the help goverments can provide, or the time which governments are taking.
To all wind energy organizations and supporters in Lebanon and around the world. hats off to you.
(http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTMNAREGTOPENERGY/Resources/LebanonElectricityPER.pdf)
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