| Political unrest in the late 1960s and early 1970s Chile resulted in drastic changes to internal economic configurations. This restructure, from Allende's nationalization of the copper mining industry, to Pinochet's implementation of the Chicago Boys' free market monetarist philosophy, combined to result in a prosperous society in which increasing economic output meant an augmented energy demand, in a country with a dearth of fossil fuel resources. Subsequently, the economic and energy policies set in place during the tumultuous eras of Allende and Pinochet have resulted in an influx of public and private investments in renewable energy infrastructure through partnerships with Chile's most fundamental industries. Chile's unique geography results in one of the world's highest levels of solar irradiance, and a strong emphasis on solar energy has been placed in the energy goals set out by current president Dr. Michelle Bachelet, creating an unprecedented leadership role for Chile in South America, and globally. |
PDF Full Text Request