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Only 48 per cent of Laotians are connected to the electrical grid. Access to electricity is limited due to lack of infrastructure and high costs so most rural communities rely on environmentally unfriendly energy sources, such as firewood and kerosene. Solar-powered systems are a logical alternative but start-up costs are high. To get around this, local company Sunlabob Rural Energy is renting solar-based systems to villagers. Solar-powered lanterns are available to rent at a competitive price and users can recharge the lamps for a small fee at a central facility in the village. Alternatively, a whole village can rent the equipment for generating solar electricity from the company and sub-lease power to individual houses. Link to entire story .
My Thoughts: You see? In other parts of the world locally produced power from renewable resources can and does work. Perhaps we here in the United States need to look outside our own box to find the solutions to our energy woes that really make sense.
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