Sustainable Energy Access for the Poor
Sustainable Energy Access for the Poor
Microenergy projects and services that provide renewable energy for the poor do more than just reduce carbon emissions; they also provide improvements in health, education, security, and economic development. So why have traditional microfinance and development organizations been so slow to support them?
For decades, lending to the poor meant microcredit, and energy related projects rarely fit into that model. The few attempts at intersecting energy and microfinance faltered for various reasons, ranging from the poor energy technologies available at the time to an aversion among microfinance institutions (MFIs) to move to a broader energy-lending program. Even in cases where microcredit clients could use funds to buy clean energy technology, few did. Instead, many continued to use traditional, inefficient and often dangerous means— kerosene, candles, animal dung, or diesel—to light their...
Read this article on the Americas Quarterly website. | Subscribe to AQ.
