Ramón Méndez Galain, Uruguay’s National Director of Energy from 2008 to 2015, is one of Latin America’s foremost voices on the transition to renewable power. A physicist by training, Méndez while director oversaw the drafting and implementation of Uruguay’s landmark, 25-year energy-conversion strategy, which was adopted by executive order in 2008 and formally endorsed by the country’s major political parties in 2010. The plan spurred a dramatic shift away from fossil-fuel-based electric-power generation. By 2015, Uruguay generated 98% of its electricity with renewable power, up from 62% in 2008. Currently, renewables’ share stands at 99%. The gains involved over US$5 billion in investment—an amount roughly equivalent to 10% of the country’s GDP—reduced average power-generation costs by about 40%, and created roughly 50,000 temporary and permanent jobs. After leaving that post, Méndez led the National Directorate of Climate Change (2015–2016), and during 2016-2019, served as General Director of Planning for Montevideo, overseeing urban-infrastructure planning. He spoke recently with EcoAméricas correspondent Lara Rodríguez.
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