Solar Power Development in Vermont and Jordan

Just a few years ago, 97% of Jordan’s energy came from foreign oil sources. Now, Jordan plans to reduce its energy imports by 37% in the coming years, with their share of renewable energy reaching 7% by 2015 and 10% by 2020.... [ view full abstract ]

Just a few years ago, 97% of Jordan’s energy came from foreign oil sources. Now, Jordan plans to reduce its energy imports by 37% in the coming years, with their share of renewable energy reaching 7% by 2015 and 10% by 2020. In Vermont, the majority of current energy comes from New England and Canada. However, Vermont aims to turn into the nation’s first all-green-energy economy, with 90% of energy production in the state coming from renewable sources by 2050. In comparing solar power development in Jordan, a developing desert country in the Middle East, to solar power development in Vermont, a small northern state in the developed United States, I find that solar power investment is a growing industry in both regions. In order to understand the causes of this growth, policies and economic incentives in each region are compared to people’s attitudes and motivations to invest in solar. Based on extensive interviews, conducted in Arabic in Jordan and in English in Vermont, with private individuals, renewable energy companies, and local policy makers, the two regions’ pathways are compared and offer some lessons for solar power development around the world. This paper concludes on how policies can successfully promote solar power development while also stimulating economic growth, increasing energy security, and combating climate change.