The sun shines every day in Cuba. We may have the occasional cloud burst, but the sun always seems to come out. This fact along with the fact that the base has to be self-sustaining due to our not so gracious host nation and our distance from US soil, means that GTMO is an ideal location for alternative power and water supplies.
Everywhere you look on base you can find evidence of solar powered devices. The streetlights all have individual solar power cells. Behind the high school, the former football field is covered goal to goal by solar panels. Even the new generation of electric cars have solar panels.
These electric cars are plugged into an electric outlet to charge. There are also solar panels atop the cars.
On top of what is known as John Paul Jones Hill, there are four windmills that can be seen from almost every vantage on base. These windmills generate power for the base.
Windmills atop of JPJ Hill
In 1964, Castro cut off water to the base in retaliation for the U.S. arrest of Cuban fisherman off the coast of Florida. Water was shipped to the base and within a couple of months a desalination plant was built on base.
This sign is at the NE gate over a section of pipe that was removed and left visible as proof that the US was no longer receiving any water from Cuba. Five months later the desalination plant was on line providing adequate drinking and potable water for base residents.
The desalination plant can produce 3 million gallons of drinking water each day. It was hit hard during Hurricane Sandy, so looks a little the worse for wear right now. The water is not as tasty as Montana water. Most people buy bottled water for drinking water, but it is perfectly safe to drink.
The desalination plant went into operation in July 1964. It can produce 3 million gallons of drinking water per day.
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