Patagonia

So far we have focused on stories filled with doomsday scenarios and worst-case scenarios. For the sake of my sanity and yours, let us tell the story of Proyecto HidroAysén.

Patagonia, Chile, is home to a rich and natural environment. It is home to the Andes Mountains, rain forests, beautiful and free-flowing rivers, and various animals.

                                         The Marble Caves of Patagonia, Chile. Just one of the natural                                                                rarities in this area.  

Patagonia is a protected and untouched natural habitat. Recently, like many other sites we explored on this blog, it has faced destruction due to human growth and influence.

The HidroAysén was a proposed hydro-electric complex. The project would call for the construction of five plants, two on the Bater river and three on the Pascua River. The HidroAysén is a joint project with European energy company that will own a 51 percent stake to a 49 percent stake for Colbun SA, a Chilean company. Executives claim HidroAysén would reduce Chilean dependence on fossil fuels and provide energy to thousands of central Chileans, according to hidroaysén.cl.

                                          A Demonstration of Chilean citizens against HidroAysén.

According to NRDC.org,  the project would flood 14,000 acres of habitat and ranch land,displace families and disrupt national parks and reserves through the construction of transmission lines.

On June 10, The Chilean government rejected the proposal.

"This project has many aspects that were poorly though out," said Chilean Energy Minister Maximo Pacheco to the bbc.

With the loss of the project, supporters believe that Chileans lost the opportunity to wean off fossil fuels and become energy independent.

Sources
http://www.hidroaysen.cl/

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/chile-rejects-huge-hidroaysen-dam-patagonia

http://www.nrdc.org/international/patagonia/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-27788286