Alternative Energy Cuba: Four Wind Turbines for Guantanamo Bay

Four new wind turbines are being installed at the U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and are projected to save $1.5 million in annual oil imports. The Los Angeles Times also listed an additional benefit as being "showing energy-starved communist neighbours what they are missing".

Base public works officer, Cmdr. Jeffrey Johnston and the base commander, Capt. Leslie J. McCoy, noted that Cuban military officials with whom they met periodically had been keenly interested in the wind project, which is now the most visible feature of the base from any direction.

"The Cubans are very intrigued by the wind generators, but I see no potential for sharing the technology at this time," McCoy said, alluding to the absence of diplomatic relations with Havana and a trade embargo that had been in place since shortly after Castro came to power in 1959.

Cuba has suffered widespread and protracted electricity outages in recent years as the price of oil has driven up production costs. The country has invested little in developing alternative energy resources.

Los Angeles Times article on the addition of Windmills in Guantanamo Bay