Caribbean islands could help lead the way in weaning us from fossil fuels by tapping into heat energy deep within the Earth.
Forget the white-sand beaches and astonishing biodiversity. The Caribbean’s real treasure might be buried deep, deep underground, in the form of steam and piping-hot water — in other words, geothermal energy.
In recent years, the Antilles, lesser and greater, has emerged as a hub for geothermal energy exploration. Nevis and St. Vincent are soon to host private geothermal investment projects. The European Union recently awarded Dominica a $10.3 million grant to jump-start geothermal energy development. And on the eastern Caribbean island of Montserrat, geologists are using cutting-edge techniques to map the rocky subterranean surfaces below.
The stakes are high. If the region can harness the power of its heat — and it’s a big if — a nearly endless supply of energy could reward it. That, in turn, would free up billions of dollars Caribbean countries spend importing diesel, which fuels most of its power plants. Aruba, for instance, spends a staggering 16 percent of its GDP on diesel.
