There’s been a lot of talk during this election year about energy independence. For some, it’s an issue of national security. For others, it’s a matter of economics. Still others see a more nuanced reality, in which security, the economy, technological innovation and the environment are all inextricably connected to the goal of energy independence. In a global economy, it might sound regressive to talk in terms of being self-sufficient, but achieving sustainability locally and thinking globally aren’t mutually exclusive concepts. Just ask the residents of the tiny Danish island of Samso. In the past ten years, Samsingers (I didn’t make that up, I swear) have launched an ambitious renewable energy campaign, reducing the island’s carbon footprint by more than 140% and creating a robust local economy.
