New York Times Editorial

Today's NYT has a well stated Editorial opposing the dams in Patagonia. Here is a link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/opinion/01tue3.html?ex=1364702400&en=f02daaa4c1685e30&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

There is no doubt that Chile needs more energy to sustain and grow its extractive industries. Chile and Argentina recently signed a new energy cooperation agreement, but that is ultimately reliant on Argentina's natural gas imports from Bolivia, which are subject Morales risk.

With the mining industries (and Chilean government by extension) reaping such a huge windfall from high copper prices, it seems as though more expensive (but not environmentally devastating) energy solutions such as massive-scale solar power or algae-derived biodiesel could be alternatives to the large scale hydro projects. I hope that the Chilean government will hear and heed the voices from around the world that are opposing this project.