The Interconnection of Remote Renewable Energy Resources to Supply Electric Power to the South and Export Income to Northern Forum Countries

Background Summary

Twenty years ago, inventor and architect, Dr. R. Buckminster Fuller proposed the electrical interconnection of remote renewable energy resources to be the planet's highest priority objective. While the global energy grid is still years away, technological advances have made international and inter-regional energy networks practicable today.

Transmission lines can now move power up to 7000 kilometers (high-voltage direct current), enabling electric power to move instantly between time zones East to West, and seasonally between North and South. The origin of the energy grid emerged from the "World Game," its stated purpose is "to make the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological damage or the disadvantage to anyone."

While a relatively small percentage of the world's population resides in Northern Forum member countries, some of the world's most abundant renewable energy resources exist in the Northern latitude countries of Scandinavia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Alaska and Canada. With appropriate ecological development, the enormous untapped capacity of hydro, tidal, wind, and geothermal power can be developed for the energy hungry regions to the south — Western and Eastern Europe, India, China, North and South Korea, Japan and the lower 48 states of the US.

This export of renewable energy does not deplete the resources or wealth of the exporting region, and in fact will earn export income for these Northern latitude states from a finished product — electricity — that can be harnessed and sold for decades to come.

The linkage of this most basic infrastructure enhances further trade and cooperation between nations, Even former enemies, East and West Germany initiated the process of a European-wide system after the fall of the Berlin Wall. After 40 years of animosity, a prime agreement between Israel and Jordan from the Washington Declaration was the linkage of power systems. While initial energy exchanges are usually small — normally just for emergency back-up and reserve capacity, as trust develops so does the electrical purchase since the relationship is interdependent — mutually beneficial for both parties.

Ex-Governor of Alaska, Walter Hickel has carried this initiative to the Secretary GEneral of the United Nations calling it a visionary project for world peace. Quoting from Governor Hickel's presentation last September 22 1994:

Why war? Why not big projects — "Two billion people live without electricity today. Show me any area in the world where there is a lack of energy, and I'll show you basic poverty. There is a direct tie-in between energy and poverty, energy and war, energy and peace."

There are several possible demonstration projects in the Northern Forum that would forge a breakthrough in cooperation, increase living standards and capture the world's attention.