Harish Hande: Democratizing Electricity

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Hear Harish Hande, founder and director of SELCO Solar, in a lecture about providing low-cost efficient, clean solar energy that dramatically improves the quality of life among the poor in India, where nearly half of all households do not have electricity. This event takes place at Pacific Northwest College of Art, and is sponsored by the Lemelson Foundation, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Illahee and the Mercy Corps Action Center.

Dispelling the myth that the poor in developing countries cannot afford the best technology, Harish Hande has made it his life's work to offer low-cost, efficient and clean energy to low income households. Hande and his company SELCO Solar are using a decentralized approach: 170 employees in Karnataka and Gujarat are spread across 25 energy service centers. Since 1995, SELCO Solar has sold, serviced and financed over 115,000 solar systems to their customers.

Hande is a recent recipient of the prestigious Magsaysay Award -- often considered "The Asian Nobel Prize." He is also a 2007 Ashden Award Recipient, and winner of the 2005 Tech Award. Co-sponsored by the Lemelson Foundation, Pacific NW College of Art, Illahee and the Mercy Corps Action Center, this event is free and open to the public.

What: Harish Hande: Democratizing Electricity, a lecture about providing low-cost, efficient energy to low-income households and businesses. Free and open to the public. Cosponsored by the Lemelson Foundation, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Illahee and the Mercy Corps Action Center.

When: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Where: Pacific Northwest College of Art, Swigert Commons, 1241 NW Johnson St., Portland, Oregon, 97209