Icebergs litter the outwash plain after glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) shatters nose of Colonia Glacer. Photo by Wendy Pabich.
In a surprising twist, Chilean company Colbun SA last week recommended suspension of the environmental impact assessment of 1,400 miles of transmission lines that would serve the HidroAysen project—five proposed mega-hydrodams on the Baker and Pascua Rivers in Chilean Patagonia. Approval of the transmission lines by the Chilean government in May 2011 set off wide protests around the country. Colbun is a 49 percent owner in the venture with majority owner, European energy generator Endesa. Colbun cited unclear government policy and lack of broad consensus on how Chile should satisfy future energy needs as reasons for removing itself from the environmental review process. Whether this move will represent merely a delay in the permitting process or will effectively kill the project is being widely debated. One can only hope that investors will recognize the overwhelming financial, environmental and social risk posed by the project. For story details see Reuters, Merco Press, and NRDC Switchboard.
This is wonderful news. I have no doubt that the energy you have put into this cause has made an impact.