Over the last 5 years, Portugal has forged ahead in the use of renewable energy.  Now nearly 45 percent of the electricity in their grid comes from renewable sources, up from 17% five years ago.  They use a mixture of wind, hydropower, solar and ocean waves, according to an article in the New York Times.

Next year, in 2011, Portugal expects to be the first nation to establish a national network of charging stations for electric cars.

Prime Minister José Sócrates used a landslide victory in 2005 to push through the program over the objections of the country's fossil fuel companies.  It cost him.  In 2009 he won by a far smaller percentage.  It cost the ratepayers as well.  The Portuguese have long paid about twice what Americans pay for electricity and prices have risen 15% in the last five years, accompanied by much grumbling.

"To force Portugal’s energy transition, Mr. Sócrates’s government restructured and privatized former state energy utilities to create a grid better suited to renewable power sources," according to the NYT article.  "To lure private companies into Portugal’s new market, the government gave them contracts locking in a stable price for 15 years — a subsidy that varied by technology and was initially high but decreased with each new contract round."

Portugal is likely to reach its goal of utilizing domestically produced renewable energy for 60% of its electricity and 31% of its total energy needs by 2020.  Another five countries - Ireland, Denmark, Britain, Canada and Brazil - are expected to obtain 40% or more of their power needs from renewables, including hydro, by 2025. However, compared to the US, Portugal and the other countries have it relatively easy.  The European countries have a small amount of fossil fuels and have a GHG emissions trading system that discourages fossil fuel usage.  In contrast, the US has significant domestic oil, natural gas and coal industries that oppose any incentives or support for renewable energies.  In addition, the U.S. has a decrepit electrical grid and has shied away from discouraging fossil fuel usage.  The US is expected to be at 20% use of renewables by 2025.