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Expert on solar energy will visit Rogue Valley By Paul Fattig Alternative energy specialist Bruno Henriquez will visit the Rogue Valley next week as part of his international effort to shed light on solar energy. Hailing from Cuba, he is vice president of the Cuban Physics Society�s department on renewable and alternative energy. His visit is being sponsored by Peace House. Henriquez, who travels the world to discuss renewable energy development, will give two public presentations on Wednesday and Thursday during his visit to Southern Oregon. His visit to the Rogue Valley demonstrates the growing worldwide interest in renewable energy sources, observed Ashland area resident Richard Perez, editor and publisher of Home Power, a 30,000-circulation magazine dedicated to home-made power. "Developing nations have much more of an impetus to develop things like solar electricity," Perez said. "Cuba is doing it much faster than we are. They�re smart people. They know that sunshine is delivered free daily." Cuba�s central focus has been on a less-expensive aspect of solar energy, such as solar thermal applications, but hasn�t done as much work with photovoltaic cells, Perez said. Thermal applications use the sun�s heat in various ways, while photovoltaic uses turn the sun�s light into electricity. "But interest in solar energy on a global scale has never been higher than now," he said. "They are very interested in Germany and Japan. Everybody is concerned about power outages. "All it took was the lights to start going out," he added. "People are of a mind that if it can happen in California it can happen anywhere." Henriquez�s visit comes at a time when the Bush administration is exploring ways to boost production from California�s small, alternative-energy power plants. While many are natural gas-burning cogeneration facilities that serve industrial plants and also sell power, others are renewable energy plants using wind, solar, biomass (mill and orchard waste, for instance) or other alternative energy sources. Henriquez�s first talk will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the large lecture hall of the science building at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. His next presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Medford Congregational United Church of Christ, 1801 E. Jackson St., Medford. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.