Creating harmony in South America

South America is looking for ways to harmonize power supply expansion with growing environmental concerns as electricity demand increases at a fast pace. While South America contributed little to the world's total pollutant emissions, societies are increasingly becoming aware of the impact that new hydropower plants or fossil-burning thermal generators have. And the "not in my backyard" syndrome, typical of developed countries, is also gaining strength in the region. Private investors leading key investment decisions in the reformed South American power sectors are facing organized opposition to the building of new plants. Brazil and Chile provide two examples of how countries are trying to reconcile the need for abundant energy supply with environmental constraints