Solar-Based Rural Electrification and Micro-Enterprise ... - NREL

AcknowledgementsThe National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) sponsored this paper.The contents of the case study are the result of the author’s experiences while working on decentralizedrenewable energy projects first as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and later as anEnersol employee. The study also reflects the valuable contributions of other Enersol staff.Special acknowledgement is extended to Ms. Ana Cristina Zepeda de Servellon, Executive Director of theSolar Energy Development Association (Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Energía Solar – Honduras;ADESOL-Honduras), an Enersol affiliate in Honduras, for presenting this paper at the World RenewableEnergy Congress in Florence, Italy, in September 1998 and to Philip Covell, Enersol’s ExecutiveDirector, for his valuable contribution and keen proofreading skills. Credit must also be given to RichardHansen, Shannon Graham, Cynthia Knowles and John Stevens who each in their own way challenged theauthor to contemplate energy and gender issues amidst the frenzy of life and work in this grassrootsmovement. A personal thanks also to Thomas Galvin.This paper would never have been possible were it not for the insight, guidance, and support of Dr.Barbara C. Farhar of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. For these, I am truly grateful.The opinions expressed within this study, as well as any inaccuracies, is the responsibility of the author.ii