Greenpeace installs giant renewable energy dome in Patna

Patna, October 20, 2010: Greenpeace unveiled the “Urja Kranti Kendra”, a four-storey high globe powered entirely by solar energy, to drive home the message that Bihar could take a lead by choosing renewable energy (RE) to solve its power crisis.

At the launch, the environmental watchdog released a report card exposing the various parties’ performance in their support for the only viable and sustainable energy option for the state. They also released ‘Empowering Bihar ,’ a booklet of articles and photographs to prove that RE is already providing energy services to over one lakh people in the state.

“This Urja Kranti Kendra is to showcase the RE solution to the people and policy makers in Bihar. The state is already leading the way in decentralised energy solutions. If it gets political support, it can lead the country in building an energy infrastructure of the future,” said Samit Aich, Executive Director of Greenpeace India, who was present at the launch.

Releasing the report card, Ramapati Kumar, Greenpeace campaigner, said, “While we are happy to see that there is support for renewable across party lines, clearly, the JD (U) – BJP combine manifesto has best articulated its vision of renewable energy.” Greenpeace gave the Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto four stars, Janata Dal (United) three and a half and Rashtriya Janata Dal three stars on the basis of each of their manifesto texts on renewable energy, and on creating the required framework in the state to ensure investment in RE.

Under the traditional, centralised system, Bihar is reeling under a power crisis. It has the lowest per capita power consumption; 93 units as against the national average of 715 units. According to a recent study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, the state has the highest peak deficit at 33.7 per cent. It is largely dependent on import of energy from other states and the central grid, as most of the power plants and coal reserves were sectioned with Jharkhand after bifurcation in 2000.

With the installation of the Urja Kranti Kendra, Greenpeace seeks to prove that Bihar has plenty of renewable energy sources that can be tapped to fill the state’s electricity deficit, and allow Bihar to leapfrog to an energy-secure future.

Also present at the inauguration was Dr Razi Ahmed, Gandhian and head of the Gandhi Sangrahalaya.

Greenpeace press release