(5/1/2010)
The provincial government of Bali is developing solar energy capabilities as one step to address the power shortage reflected in the more than 56,000 households existing without any electrical power on the island.
"Solar energy may be one way to address the energy crisis, especially in remote areas still outside the service grid of the State Power Company (PLN)," said Bali's governor Made Mangku Pastika.
As reported by the national news agency Antara, the government has given a "green light" for the installation of 1,700 solar energy unites, each capable of supplying 60 watts of power to a single dwelling.
Plans are to install the solar energy units before the end of 2010 using funds designated for supplying electricity to Bali's poorest citizens.
Governor Pastika said the homes equipped with the solar energy units will avoid monthly power bills. "There's no need to pay a power bill. All we ask is that the people take proper care of the units in order that the batteries last long, ensuring they continue to enjoy a power supply," said Pastika.
© Bali
Discovery Tours. Articles may be quoted and reproduced
if attributed to http://www.balidiscovery.com.
