28259: Rigdon (reply) RE: 28255: Energy in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

FROM: JRigdon@researchonline.net (John Rigdon)

The discussion of energy needs and resources has really fascinated me
and I spent most of yesterday reading up on the topic.

Although I have been consumed for the past year with the literacy issue
in Haiti and have given no thought to the energy needs, the need for
energy is critical to any discussion of what can be done to help lessen
the misery index for the people of Haiti.

There has been a lot done in the past few years on this subject and from
what I can tell here are the conclusions:

1.  The entire Caribbean is facing a net energy shortage and of course
Haiti is at the bottom of the list as usual.

2.  Haiti does not have the water power potential to meet all of its
energy needs as far as rivers and streams are concerned.  What potential
there is now is regulated and potentially controlled by the
non-functioning government so that a village with a stream that could
provide power cannot be developed without approval.

3.  Wave power has not been adequately explored although the potential
has been demonstrated.

4.  A wind system adequate to power a small village will cost $75 - $100
thousand dollars U.S.  The primary manufacturer of these systems has
three agents / dealers listed in Haiti.

5.  Potential bio-diesel production will be essentially consumed by the
production process and anticipated support industry so there would be
little net sum capital creation in addition to being environmentally
messy.

6.  A couple of nuclear reactors would supply most of the energy needs
of the country, but the politics of getting them built puts Haiti at the
bottom of the list for potential installations in the Caribbean.

Although I am no expert in the field, I would love to get involved in
any discussion regarding this issue.

John Rigdon
Tools and Resources for Haiti
http://www.researchonline.net/haiti