MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile Bachelet's State of the Nation speech energy laden

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet chimed into the national energy debate Wednesday, using her annual May 21 State of the Nation speech to downplay the country's current electricity scarcity – which she described as “transitory” – and to plug the continued use of Chile's waterways for hydroelectric generation.

Highlighting her administration's energy advances, Bachelet noted that during her two years in office authorities approved projects representing more than 6,000 MW of electricity. At the beginning of her term Chile's total installed capacity was 12,000 MW, she said. "That's how problems are solved, with actions and concrete accomplishments," said Bachelet, who promised by the end of her term to "generate even more electricity, with better security and lower prices." The president insisted that Chile should diversify its energy matrix. Issuing a strong endorsement of non-conventional renewable sources of energy, Bachelet said she will soon travel to California where she will visit some of the world's "most important solar plants." "We know we can't ignore the challenge of introducing new alternative energies that are at the same time cleaner and renewable. For that reason my administration is pushing strongly for development of non-conventional, renewable energies," she said. "Why not take advantage of (Chile's) far north, where the sun shines all year, giving us a huge source of energy?" The president's endorsement of renewable energy echoes the long-voiced opinions of the country's environmental leaders, who point out that Chile is unusually rich in non-conventional energy sources. In addition to solar energy, Chile – with one of the world's longest coastlines – could produce vast amounts of wind and wave/tidal energy. The country is also an ideal candidate for geothermal energy production. But Bachelet also insisted on the need to continue tapping the hydroelectric potential of Chile's rivers, a position that will no doubt ruffle feathers among many environmental leaders – people like Juan Pablo Orrego of the Santiago-based NGO Ecosistemas and Chile Sustentable's Sara Larraín – who over the past two years have rallied hard against a controversial plan by energy companies Endesa and Colbún to build five dams in far southern Chile's Region XI. Orrego, Larraín and others fear that Endesa-Colbún's HidroAysén project will devastate the region's pristine Baker and Pascua Rivers and lead to future industrial encroachment in Chilean Patagonia. "In order to grow, we will need ever more energy," said President Bachelet. "We don't have the luxury not to take advantage of energy generating resources, especially at a time of climate change, when all countries ought to promote non-polluting energies such as hydroelectricity." "We will advance purposefully. We will do so in full accordance with environmental laws, and with the speed Chile demands," she added. Although Bachelet's statements included no direct mention of Endesa-Colbún's HidroAysén dam plan, the speech is likely to be interpreted as at least a veiled endorsement of the project. The comments come in the wake of similar statements made by her secretary general, José Antonio Viera-Gallo, and interior minister, Edmundo Pérez Yoma. Just last week Viera-Gallo declared that Chile has "no other alternative" but to embrace hydroelectricity. "Inevitably, this means looking toward the south," he said. Interior Minister Edmundo Pérez Yoma offered an even more direct endorsement of the project in February, when he stated simply that he's "for it." "What we have is water and we need to take advantage of it," he said. Aside from discussing energy, Bachelet emphasized social and educational issues, utilizing her speech to tout Chile's recently reformed pension system and announce a host of new investments. She described the pension overhaul, which was signed into law this March, as "a historic advancement" and said it would give many poor Chileans government payments for the first time. According to the text of the reform, beginning on July 1, 2008 the poorest 40% of the population will receive a pension per month of approximately 120 US dollars. By 2009, the coverage will expand to the poorest 45% of the population, and the amount received will increase to approximately US$150 per month. "This measure will allow us to end indigence and poverty among senior citizens," said Bachelet, who also revealed plans to give a one-time US$45 bonus to Chile's 1.5 million pensioners to help them cope with recent price increases. Bachelet announced that the government will spend more on education through increased investments in university scholarships and classroom technology. She said that, within the next year, the government will grant 2,500 scholarships to Chileans looking to carry out postgraduate studies abroad, up from only 500 students in 2007. Likewise, Chile will give 2,000 students from smaller technical institutes the opportunity to study abroad, and will also create scholarships for students hoping to study foreign languages. "We want to make permanent our commitment to giving students an opportunity to receive an excellent education abroad," she said. "Our young people should rest assure that these opportunities will always be available. We are here to help create your future." Bachelet's proposals concerning Chile's primary and secondary education, meanwhile, had a strong focus on technology. Chile will strive to give each boy and girl personal computers starting in 2009, when the government will give the country's best seventh-grade students their own laptops. Bachelet explained that the policy would only apply to students from the poorest 40% of Chilean society. Arguably one of Bachelet's most surprising plans concerned Chile's college entrance examination. She disclosed that, staring this year, all high school seniors hailing from public schools will be able to take the test free of charge. Bachelet also announced record investments in sports programs, and promised to invest 600 million US dollars over two years to improve health care. She added that municipalities will be authorized to distribute the controversial morning-after emergency-contraception pill at their mayors' discretion. This comes after Chile's Constitutional Court banned the distribution of pill in public health clinics, provoking the outrage of pro-choice politicians and citizens. "Let's let the country judge," she said regarding the pill's availability. The Santiago Times