India's First Fully Solar Village Lights Up Lives
2022-11-04
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1Kesa Bhai Prajapati works with material from earth called clay to make containers like jugs and vases.
2Prajapati recently became much happier while making his products.
3Prajapati is 68 years old and from the village of Modhera in western India's Gujarat state.
4He is happier because he has doubled the amount of clay goods he can make compared to a few months ago.
5He creates his products on a machine called a potter's wheel.
6In the past, he was producing less because he had to turn the wheel himself.
7He could not pay the cost of running an electric motor.
8 The electricity bill was up to $18.19 a month.
9Now, however, his machine moves on solar power.
10Earlier this month, Prajapati's village was declared India's first village to run completely on solar power all the time.
11The village has around 6,500 people living there who mostly work with clay, clothes, shoes, or on farms.
12Prajapati said, "Electricity has helped us to save time and produce more products."
13India is the world's third-largest carbon dioxide releaser.
14But it aims to meet half of its energy demands from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, by 2030.
15That is an increase over its earlier goal of 40 percent.
16The government said it met that goal in December 2021.
17The project in Modhera was financed by the federal and local governments for nearly $10 million.
18It involved setting up over 1,300 solar panels on the tops of private and government buildings that were connected to a power plant.
19The government buys surplus energy produced from the villagers if they do not use all of the amount that has been given to the household.
20Praveen Bhai is 43 years old and works with clothes.
21With the extra money, he plans to buy a gas connection and stove.
22Many houses in the village cook food on wood-fired stoves which create smoke.
23He said, "I had to teach the kids under the streetlamp. Now they will be able to study inside the house."
24Modhera is known for its ancient Sun Temple which honors the sun god.
25And it is located in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat.
26Gujarat will be holding elections later this year.
27Modi said earlier this month, "For a self-reliant India of the 21st century, we have to increase such efforts related to our energy needs."
28Reena Ben is 36 years old and sews clothes part time.
29The solar power has hugely helped her work.
30She said, "When we got access to solar power, I bought an electric motor worth 2,000 rupees ($24) to attach to the sewing machine. Now I am able to sew one or two more clothes daily."
31I'm Jill Robbins.
1Kesa Bhai Prajapati works with material from earth called clay to make containers like jugs and vases. Prajapati recently became much happier while making his products. 2Prajapati is 68 years old and from the village of Modhera in western India's Gujarat state. He is happier because he has doubled the amount of clay goods he can make compared to a few months ago. 3He creates his products on a machine called a potter's wheel. 4In the past, he was producing less because he had to turn the wheel himself. He could not pay the cost of running an electric motor. The electricity bill was up to $18.19 a month. 5Now, however, his machine moves on solar power. Earlier this month, Prajapati's village was declared India's first village to run completely on solar power all the time. The village has around 6,500 people living there who mostly work with clay, clothes, shoes, or on farms. 6Prajapati said, "Electricity has helped us to save time and produce more products." 7India is the world's third-largest carbon dioxide releaser. But it aims to meet half of its energy demands from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, by 2030. That is an increase over its earlier goal of 40 percent. The government said it met that goal in December 2021. 8The project in Modhera was financed by the federal and local governments for nearly $10 million. It involved setting up over 1,300 solar panels on the tops of private and government buildings that were connected to a power plant. 9The government buys surplus energy produced from the villagers if they do not use all of the amount that has been given to the household. 10Praveen Bhai is 43 years old and works with clothes. With the extra money, he plans to buy a gas connection and stove. Many houses in the village cook food on wood-fired stoves which create smoke. 11He said, "I had to teach the kids under the streetlamp. Now they will be able to study inside the house." 12Modhera is known for its ancient Sun Temple which honors the sun god. And it is located in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat. Gujarat will be holding elections later this year. 13Modi said earlier this month, "For a self-reliant India of the 21st century, we have to increase such efforts related to our energy needs." 14Reena Ben is 36 years old and sews clothes part time. The solar power has hugely helped her work. 15She said, "When we got access to solar power, I bought an electric motor worth 2,000 rupees ($24) to attach to the sewing machine. Now I am able to sew one or two more clothes daily." 16I'm Jill Robbins. 17Sunil Kataria reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 18________________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20source - n. someone or something that provides what is wanted or needed 21solar panel - n. a large, flat piece of equipment that uses the sun's light or heat to create electricity 22kid - n. a son or daughter 23lamp - n. a device that produces light 24self-reliant - adj. confident in your own abilities and able to do things for yourself: not needing help from other people 25access - n. a way of being able to use or get something 26motor - n. a machine that produces motion or power for doing work 27_______________________________________________________________________ 28What do you think of this solar energy powered village? 29We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 30Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.