What’s Up With Iceland and Clean Energy?

Iceland is the little nation that could in terms of clean energy. It’s the place that has harnessed its hydro and tapped into its geothermal like no other place in the world. Iceland is the poster child for green living. It meets 70% of its energy needs through domestic geothermal and hydro power. It imports oil only to fuel its cars and its fishing fleet and it is working on eliminating that. Iceland is the only country I know of that has a fleet of hydrogen fueled buses tooling around its capital city. Much was made a few years ago of Iceland’s intention to convert both cars and its fishing fleet to hydrogen fuel. There is even a hydrogen filling station on Miklabraut in Reykjavik.

So imagine my surprise when I read today that Iceland the green will be offering up 100 offshore leases to international oil companies hoping to explore new untapped reserves in the pristine waters of the arctic. It seems that the waters off Iceland’s Northeastern coast show promise and Icelanders are hoping that waning world oil reserves and improved technology will make drilling in the arctic an attractive proposition. I know it’s good business, but I can’t help being a bit disappointed. Iceland is the clean energy laboratory for the world–the showcase of our sustainable future. Oil is so yesterday and until now Iceland seemed so tomorrow. Iceland and offshore drilling? I’ll get over it, but really–What’s up with that?

Watch the Video to get Iceland’s official take on clean energy.