Time to Protect the Futaleufu and Cordillera Sarmiento

Time to Protect the Futaleufu

By Don Weeden, Jack Miller and Camilo Rada

As outdoorsmen who have explored many parts of Chile, spanning five decades, we are particularly concerned about two places of such special beauty that it is inconceivable nature lovers would allow them to be compromised. They would surely be protected as national parks in other developed countries.

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Energy bids in Chile drop to $29/MW, lowering interest in dams

We already know building huge dams in the middle of nowhere is expensive. Much of the power would be lost in transmission, not to mention the infrastructure a rural area like Futaleufu would need to transform into an industrial "sacrifice zone." But energy reforms are finally creating a more competitive market in Chile, and that means more solar and wind projects are winning bids. This week bids dropped as low as $29 USD per MW, while large dam-builders like Colbun were rejected with bids of $70/MW or more. Check out the article (in Spanish) from Diario Financiero, the same newspaper that broke the story in 2014 about Endesa temporarily withdrawing plans to dam the Futaleufu, due to resistance from Riverkeeper and the local community.

This print, designed by one of our neighbors, is a huge hit! Visitors to our office can make their own shirts and share the message of "Futaleufu Without Dams"

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Curious what it's like living in Chilean Patagonia? Follow our page and share with your friends to help save the Futaleufu. On our page we feature photos by local photographers, share updates on projects like the Zone of Touristic Interest mentioned in the article above, and inspire people to join in conserving Patagonia.

Big things are in store! And we want everyone who loves this part of the planet to be on alert. Please follow and consider making a gift today so you can celebrate together with everyone who loves this river and its people.

We need your help today! Your one-time gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We have an ongoing fiscal relationship with Waterkeeper Alliance, a 501(c)3 in the U.S. that supports nearly 300 Waterkeepers around the world. Click to learn how to donate here.

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