Wind Beneath Our Wings

With renewable power, Tocco da Casauria, in central Italy, produces more electricity than it uses, making money off the surplus.

New York Times: Ancient Italian Town Has Wind at Its Back

Elisabeth Rosenthal wrote an article for the New York Times which is truly an inspiration for ideas linking the use of renewable energy and rural poverty eradication. There is little evidence against increasing urbanization, and as the forces of necessity push people to migrate towards cities, multiple dimensions of social imbalance is produced.

Demand for energy security in cities and inevitable transition to renewable sources of energy mean that an economically feasible solution is required in the near future.Tocca da Casauria is a shinning example of how countries with the potential to produce power from wind energy in rural areas can actually solve multiple problems at once.

Firstly, the generation of power means employment for people living in the villages and other rural areas nearby. Statistics from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have shown positive results in terms of economic well-being for rural villages nearby power generators, provided they have no ill effects on the health of the people there.

Secondly, the generation of power from renewable sources means that experts will have to relocate with their families to the area. Given a few years, demand for education and other commodities will increase, creating a base for entrepreneurship and upward social mobility. There is also a possibility that it might stem the rural exodus a little more.

Thirdly, the town of Tocca da Casauria has proven that it is possible to generate more electricity to push back into the electric grid and actually earn an income from it. Most urban areas do not possess the land and space to generate power from renewable sources like wind and solar, but consume more than what fossil fuel plants can provide. Their dependence on excess production from rural areas will bring in money that can be used to build up basic infrastructure like clean water, educational facilities and transportation grids.

Lastly, spreading out renewable energy generation facilities around the country provides energy security from a military and safety perspective. Renewable sources such as wind and geothermal mean that generators have to be spread out in many rural areas, as compared to nuclear and fossil fuel plants which are usually concentrated to prevent widespread pollution and/or damage.

It is therefore highly possible that the complex answer for eradicating poverty could incorporate the use of renewable energy generation. Of course, many political and socioeconomic obstacles stand in the way, but it's all about the ideas first!