Ecobreves – COSTA RICA: Promoting Solar Energy

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SAN JOSE, Mar 31 2002 (IPS) - Costa Rica's Energy Directorate installed 662 solar panels or cells in the last three years to provide electricity to that number of poor families in rural areas. The non-governmental Biomass Users Network of Central America (BUN-CA) has highlighted this government effort.

“Not only did it fill a social need by providing electricity to these homes, but it also improved the standard of living of the people without harming the environment,” said José María Blanco, BUN-CA director.

The organization, along with the World Environment Fund and the United Nations Development Program, is engaged in 21 projects aimed at increasing electrical production in environmentally friendly ways. Three of the initiatives are in Costa Rica.