One Indian State Gets it - Why Can't the Rest Too?

After the huge Solar Thermal powerplant that is being supported by the Clinton Foundation, the state of Gujarat now plans to build a tidal power plant according to the London Times: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article6935567.ece
Considering India's long coastline, I have argued for a long time on my other blog, Showing Fossil Fuel the Fist, that India needs to look at tapping tidal power all along its coast. Some coastal states are highly advanced like Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and Gujarat, others like Orissa have immense resources but are underdeveloped. Instead of wasting money on fossil fuel based powerplants, the free power of the waves could be harnessed to offer clean energy to the coastal states in a big way. And, if offshore wind is harnessed (the British are world leaders in both tidal power and in offshore wind energy) I do think that a lot of the terrible pollution that affects much of India could be curbed.

There's nothing like a good example - Gujarat is setting one. Now, how about some good, friendly competition between the coastal states?

Excellent News from India - A Big Thumbs Up for these Barefoot Solar Engineers

I am grateful to Dr Mayraj Fahim for http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/11/09/indias-barefoot-solar-engineers-are-building-a-brighter-future/#this link from Inhabitat, a blog that I love following.# Orissa is among one of India's poorest states and Kalahandi used to be among its poorest regions some time ago. The thrust to provide solar powered lighting to this beautiful but impoverished state is especially welcome. The dedication of the "barefoot engineers" who have chosen to go into the villages and train people in using solar lighting is also something to be commended. This is an example of Indian progress in one region of the country that needs to be made available to other states that may contemplate similar, or, as is often the case in India, conventional (and destructive and expensive) solutions instead.

Let's hope for the best and look for more good news like this in the future!