You know, it's really nice to read environmental news that doesn't make me want to barricade myself in the basement with a baseball bat and 100 cases of mini-ravioli. In an encouraging story about green power, the European Union is considering a $10 billion plan that would see a string of solar power stations in North Africa and the Middle East deliver electricity to Europe via undersea cables.
The proposal, being spearheaded by Jordanian Prince Hassan Bin Talal, would place hundreds of solar collecting stations in desert areas along the Mediterranean coast, and could eventually provide up to a sixth of European power needs.
The idea is a real win-win -- a vast new renewable power source would be opened up, desert areas that are unsuitable for agriculture would become newly valuable, and the project would be a source of jobs and income for impoverished areas of North Africa. As a bonus, under the current plan the generation process would also produce desalinated sea water for the booming populations of the host nations.
The downside -- why is there always a downside? -- is cost. It's estimated that after the initial $10 billion to get the ball rolling, the price tag for the whole deal could approach half a trillion dollars. Moreover, the power generated would still be more expensive than electricity from fossil fuels, although proponents say that advances in solar technologies will bring costs down. Still, if this or a similar project doesn't happen now, in 30 years or so energy shortages may make it impossibly expensive to build.
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