Peru To Give Solar Power To 2M Of Their Poorest Residents By 2016 For Free

Carbon emissions are a problem worldwide, as countries across the globe are contributing to global warming. But now Peru is initiating a program that will be giving out 2 million residents solar energy for free! Even better, the nation will be given the poorest residents electricity.

'The National Photovoltaic Household Electrification Program' is responsible for the noble endeavor, whic began on July 8, and the entire effort should be implemented by 2016. An estimated 1,601 solar panels were installed in the Contumaza province of Peru, according to CleanTechnica.com, in the districts of Cupisnique, San Benito, Tantarica, Chilete, Yonan, San Luis, and Contai. The panels were a part of the program's first phase and are said to provide power to 126 communities in need.

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The future of the solar panel system is to install 12,500 solar (photovoltaic) systems, reports PlanetSave.com, that will provide power to 500,000 households. These quantitative numbers can be put into perspective when you consider that 66 percent of Peru's population has access to electricity and the program will give 95 percent of Peru access to electricity.

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"This program is aimed at the poorest people, those who lack access to electric lighting and still use oil lamps, spending their own resources to pay for fuels that harm their health," said Jorge Merino, Energy and Mining Minister, to the Latin American Herald.

The entire program will cost about $200 million. Peru is the third-largest South AMerican country and has a population of over 24 million.