Progress Update: NRG Energy and Solar Electric Light Fund: A New Model for Powering Haiti’s Communities
The Clinton Foundation has been investing in green energy in Haiti to boost Haiti’s recovery, recognizing that providing efficient clean energy sources to reduce energy costs and dependency on fossil fuels is the key to improving Haiti’s energy structure. In March 2012, President Clinton visited Haiti to see the progress of solar energy installation project sites. The Foundation has worked with a variety of green technology organizations in Haiti to address Haiti’s high-energy costs, low electrification rates, and high dependency on fossil fuels. Through the Clinton Global Initiative, we are working with NRG Energy and the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) to create a model solar village in Boucan-Carré, Haiti, a project valued at over $1 million. Clinton Foundation partners are working on low-cost clean energy alternatives, creating recycling systems to help manage Haiti’s waste, and developing new methods for cooking through effective cook stoves and recycled briquettes to replace charcoal. During this trip alone, four new commitments were made by our partners to continue to invest in green energy infrastructure in Haiti. David Crane, CEO of NRG Energy, co-hosted the trip with President Clinton, and together they toured the sites of Haiti’s Central Plateau, including the Boucan Carré Health Center, the first clinic to be solarized by SELF, the Lashto Fish Farm, a new extension of the Caribbean Harvest fish hatchery that is now solar powered thanks to NRG Energy and SELF, the Bon Berger De Doman School, a Digicel-funded school with solar power; and finally the new Partners in Health Mirebalais teaching hospital, which upon completion will operate almost entirely using solar power. Executives of other foundations and energy corporations who are interested in supporting the Haitian energy sector joined President Clinton and David Crane on the site visits. These projects continue to support Haiti’s long-term recovery and improvements to Haiti's green energy infrastructure.