There are 11 million ppl who live on Cuba.

JackPearse

@Geri Solar brings independence

Mark · bans-fight-blackouts-with-solar-us-extends-oil-chokehold-2026-02-20/

@Geri They’ve known a long time about risks of foreign oil dependence; they just moved slowly (as have most nations).

The downside of being slow is their current predicament. The upside is that renewables (especially solar) & battery storage have been exponentially dropping in price & are the cheaper (& more secure) way forward.

Mark

@Geri “The Trump admin says its measures increase pressure for political change in Cuba… press secretary Leavitt said it was in Cuba's ‘best interest to make…dramatic changes very soon.’”
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/cuba-blackouts-trump-us-oil-b2924702.html

I say: Great if those ‘dramatic changes’ render obsolete the use of oil as a geopolitical weapon against Cuba.

Hopefully the international community accelerates aid to help them transition.

Mark

@Geri @freyjfreyj @HarriettMB @capnthommo @Don_kun Yes. As noted elsewhere on this thread, Cubans are scrambling to install solar in response to the petrol shortage USA caused. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/cuba-blackouts-trump-us-oil-b2924702.html

Best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago; second best time is now.

And costs of solar, wind, battery storage have come down exponentially.

Any aid orgs working on this?

#solar #renewableEnergy #cuba

Mark

@Geri @Don_kun @freyjfreyj @capnthommo @HarriettMB

US State Department has a policy of approval for certain exports to #Cuba, including:

“Items necessary for the environmental protection of U.S. and international air quality, waters or coastlines, including items related to renewable energy or energy efficiency.”

https://www.state.gov/fact-sheet-provision-of-humanitarian-assistance-to-cuba/

Mark

I think such exports would have to go to citizens directly, not to Cuban government. But that’s for the lawyers & such

Larry

@Geri
One of my sisters, a son, and a daughter of my lady, at different times stayed with Cuban families for their vacations. I'm getting messages of concern for those families that were their hosts.

Teedubyeah

@Geri my statement is 100% related. I grew up in South Florida and am very attune to cubans and Cuban culture. The people that left Cuba mostly want a free Cuba, but they fell for the lies of Castro and have failed to recognize that Trump is the same monster. They have failed to learn the lesson, they have failed to educate themselves. An uneducated population is easy to control.

Geri

@MarkBrigham @Don_kun @freyjfreyj @capnthommo @HarriettMB it is an ocean from my knowledge. Soz xx

Mark

@Petesmom @Geri China is stepping up, investing in transmission lines to carry electricity from wind farms AND helping build solar capacity.

Need a lot of new installations, both for non-fossil production and storage. But Trump’s weaponization of oil is accelerating transition. #CleanEnergy #renewables #solar #WindPower #cuba

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/feb/18/us-sanctions-power-cuts-climate-crisis-why-cuba-is-betting-on-renewables

Mark

@Petesmom @Geri I’ll avoid the geopolitics entirely, but observe (from my layman’s perspective) that China is well poised to step up & help Cuba transition to renewables. They make 80% of the world’s photovoltaic panels, producing them (cheaply!) faster than they can be deployed.

Mark

@Geri @jackpearse Yes!

Solar + wind + storage + energy efficiency

All these things are cheaper long term, and provide independence from fossil fuels.

The problem is the up-front costs make it difficult to pivot quickly. Easier to stay addicted to fossil fuel even though it costs more long term.

CelloMom On Cars

@Geri

There is an entire dark fleet out there carrying oil. Not a single one of those ships can come to Cuba's aid? Not even at "spot prices"?

AwesomeSheep48

@Petesmom @Geri China has been stepping in to help, especially with renewables; we need to step up as well.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343242/china-vows-do-what-it-can-us-blockade-leaves-cuba-just-weeks-oil

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/china-is-quietly-supplanting-russia-cubas-main-benefactor-2025-06-30/

Yes I'm Antifa. Why Aren't U?

@Geri
#Cuba won't collapse due to any oil shortage.

This is all part of scam devised by #PutinsPuppet to make #Russia the sole supplier of oil to Cuba (and save Russia's struggling economy due to their war in #Ukraine.)

Pete's Mom 🍉 🇺🇦 ☮️

@Geri
Maybe but people are going to die in Cuba and are likely already dying because of what the US Is doing and if other western countries won't step up (we know they won't - see Gaza), China or any other country able to stand up to my government is preferable to destroying Cuba.

Clemens Zauner

@Geri
It's already too late; after 15 days of blockade, the power went out. Which means huge problems with water supply & sewer-systems. As that was days ago,, hospitals & co are very likely also already in the dark.

Large Man abroad (US Video Channel, the guy was in the military) reported at the beginning of the blockade, as well after the power-out (including predictions about usual effects on the population). TL&DR: expect deaths in the 100ks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLLzSZGERYY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydw5eGwORDM

Joyful Jonny

@teedubyeah I listen to no white dude who reeks selfishness and callousness.

Hippo 🍉

@Geri and then they wonder why countries want to use nuclear power

Hippo 🍉

@awesomesheep48 @Petesmom @Geri good to know. The US is being the evil bully it has always been but it's good that others are helping out where they can. This won't be the first time the US has accidentally motivated Cuba into becoming more self-sufficient. Hopefully this too will have a happy ending in the long run