Costa Rica is having another winning streak in its
quest to phase out fossil fuels.
According to
a report from Grupo ICE, the country’s utilities
conglomerate, Costa Rica has been running on 100% renewable
energy sources for over two months. The company reports that
the last time gas-powered electricity was used was June 16.
Of the entire year so far, the country has had 151 total
days in which all power has come from renewable
resources.
Of the energy the country used over the past two months,
80.27% was from hydroelectricity — which is possible
primarily because of the
country’s heavy rains and immense river systems. Beyond
that, 12.62% from geothermal energy, 7.10% from wind power, and
just .01% was from solar power.
Although these numbers are impressive, the country actually had a
better track record of sustainable energy in 2015, when 99% of its electricity was generated through
renewables. That year, the country’s energy came from 100%
renewable sources for an impressive 285 days. (Since 251
days have gone by this year, it’ll be impossible for Costa
Rica to beat that record in 2016).
That said, a vast majority of countries couldn’t dream of pulling
off a sustainability streak akin to Costa Rica’s anytime
soon — even the ones that have promised to go 100% renewable
within the next two decades. So although Costa Rica’s fossil
fuel usage may have risen this year, its overall record is quite
an achievement.
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