Achieving Energy Security in the Caribbean Basin

Concerns over the soaring costs, limited supply and harmful ecological effects of fossil fuels have increasingly caused nations to seek renewable and clean energy. As a result, the bioenergy industry has rapidly matured and become a key component of national energy strategies, particularly for nations dependent on foreign energy. Sugarcane, a native biofuel feedstock in the Caribbean, has tremendous potential for providing such energy security to the region. To evaluate the validity of this notion, an analysis of the global conditions causing the demand for biofuels, the domestic criteria that enable industrial growth, and proven business practices that may rejuvenate the struggling sugar industry is used to determine if Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic can realistically achieve energy security. The outcome of this analysis confirms that great potential exists in the region, but substantial intervention from foreign private and public entities is necessary for long-term success.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.