Text I Protecting Patagonia At the southernmost tip of South America, one of the last untouched expanses of land on the planet is now under threat of irreversible destruction. Chil

Text I

Protecting Patagonia

At the southernmost tip of South America, one of the last untouched expanses of land on the planet is now under threat of irreversible destruction.

Chile’s Patagonia is home to the snow-capped Andes, dense temperate rainforests, lush valleys and meadows, abundant marine and bird species and traditional communities living a low-impact lifestyle. All of these could be devastated if a proposed hydroelectric complex called HidroAysén is constructed on two of the last free-flowing rivers in the world. The massive dams would:

• flood 14,000 acres of irreplaceable wildlife habitat and ranching lands;
• require constructing a new 1,200 mile-long transmission line that would potentially expose and disrupt untouched wilderness in 17 national parks and reserves, 26 wetlands and biodiversity conservation sites, impact hundreds of private properties; and
• swell the populations of local towns without providing adequate infrastructure and services to handle this growth.

While big energy companies are lobbying for this ill-conceived project, Chile’s vast renewable energy resources remain untapped and its energy efficiency opportunities unrealized. The Natural Resources Defense Council is working with a coalition to stop the HidroAysén complex and help Chile instead reach its renewable energy and energy efficiency potential.

Chile has vast renewable energy resources and energy efficiency opportunities and the potential to become a world leader in clean energy technologies. The Chilean government has signed numerous renewable energy development initiatives with the U.S. and other countries. A key part of these agreements includes information-sharing, which means that a decision to pursue renewable energy in Chile would help advance alternative energy programs in the U.S. and around the world as we learn from groundbreaking new programs.

Chile has unparalleled potential for renewable energy and energy efficiency. The country has an abundance of untapped solar, wind and geothermal energy sources, which could easily meet the country’s future energy needs. All of these alternative solutions are more sustainable, less destructive and more stable than the large hydro-electric and coal power sources that currently dominate Chile’s energy industry.

NRDC is working with a broad coalition of citizens, community groups and national and international NGOs to oppose the hydro dam project and push for sustainable energy solutions.

Available at: <http://www.nrdc.org/international/patagonia/>. Retrieved on: Jan. 10^th, 2014. Adapted.

The main purpose of Text I is to