FEATURE: Japan draws lessons from Iceland, a renewable energy powerhouse

REYKJAVIK - As concerns in Japan continue to mount over the impact of high crude oil prices on energy costs, one country has effectively harnessed its own geothermal resources, creating a contrasting energy landscape.

That country is Iceland, known for its volcanoes and high cost of living, where a simple order of bread and coffee at a cafe can easily cost over 2,000 yen ($12.7). But unlike Japan, another volcanic island nation, utility costs there are kept low thanks to its abundant renewable energy resources.