The Johnny Appleseed of solar power
Meet Neville Williams, a Maryland man who says he has an easier time installing solar in Africa and Asia than he does in the United States.
By Robynne BoydWed, Jun 17 2009 at 4:36 AM EST
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Photo courtesy Neville Williams
This is a tale about a modest man, a flaming ball of plasma and a quest. The man is Neville Williams, the ball of gas is the sun, and the quest was bringing light and power to people in the developing world.
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President Jimmy Carter was pushing solar in light of soaring oil prices and the 1973 Arab oil embargo, so much so that he installed solar panels on the roof of the White House West Wing. "The entire drive [for solar] was energy security, not environment, not global warming," Williams says. But at $90 per watt — compared with coal at only a few cents per watt — there was little interest to fan solar's flames.
Even so, the seed of an idea had sprouted in Williams.
Twelve years later, after serving as Greenpeace's national media director during a time when the organization began blowing the whistle on climate change (long before Al Gore and the IPCC ushered it onto the global stage), his idea bloomed.
Williams was on a vacation in Zimbabwe. "All around me were people living without electricity, he says. "In the West, we don't know about the Third World, or realize that only 2 percent of people in Rwanda have electricity. I thought, 'Gee, let's do something about it.'"
And so he did.
* * *
"Indefatigable" is one of the words used to describe Neville by Johnny Weiss, executive director of Solar Energy International, an organization that trains people to install and maintain renewable energy systems. Another is "pioneer." Weiss is not only referring to Williams himself, but also his work — more than 100,000 solar electric systems installed in many developing countries, including India, Africa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
"He was one of the early voices that talked about getting the space-age technology into the hands of those that needed it the most," says Weiss, who's been both a teacher and mentee to Neville for 20 years. "The World Bank talked about it, but Neville got the systems installed."
Williams' plan was radical in its simplicity. He used money donated to his nonprofit organization, the Solar Electric Light Fund, to install solar panels in rural villages. Over time, the families would pay back the cost of the panels along with a small amount of interest to create a sense of ownership and responsibility. Then Williams would move on to the next village.
Since then, Williams has helped create two more companies: the Solar Electric Light Company, which provides solar energy in India, and Standard Solar, a U.S.-based company that installs residential solar systems in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
"All three entities started on our dining room table," says Patricia Forkam, president of the Humane Society International, and Neville's wife, who fondly refers to him as "Neville Solarseed," an adaptation of Johnny Appleseed."And all started from nothing."
* * *
"Now it's time for Americans to do solar," says Williams, who created Standard Solar four years ago, believing that the clouds have parted and the sun is finally shining on solar power in the United States. "Conventional electricity will continue to increase in price, while renewables decrease. The immutable law is they will cross, and according to the experts there will be grid parity by 2012."
In other words, in the not-so-distant future solar electricity will cost the same as conventional electricity production. And if the predictions are correct, about 20 percent of U.S. households will have solar panels in the next 20 to 25 years.
Williams' own home runs off of 100-percent wind energy since it lacks enough sunlight, a fact that he believes demonstrates the need for renewable energy to be tailored to its specific environment. Still, he believes that today is solar's day in the sun. And like in his quest to help bring light and power to people in the developing world, Williams will probably be indefatigable in ushering in solar energy into the States, "one roof at a time."
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09/25/2010 01:11 AM
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Ms LEED Certification
07/22/2009 09:56 AM
Neville Williams is certainly ahead of the game. I agree that solar electricity will become more prevalent and common among households. This is why Everblue (http://www.everblueenergy.com) will be offering training courses in solar. It's amazing how ahead Williams has been in this industry.
Janny
07/08/2009 11:54 AM
Last day I search in google video and found many video about solar power and panels technology, I wish this help full for some one.
Mono
07/04/2009 13:52 PM
Solar systems work when sunlight strikes a solar photovoltaic module and excites electrons trapped in the silicon solar cell. The electrons travel through wires on the back of the solar panel and into your house, http://www.solarpanelsx.com to be used immediately or sent to your electric utility.Most places in the high plains have plenty of solar energy available to meet some, or all of your needs..... More
Chris
06/30/2009 11:07 AM
We're very proud of our company's Founder! Be sure to visit his website at http://www.NevilleWilliams.com as well as http://www.standardsolar.com/About-Us/Executive-Bios.aspx.
Douglas Arrison
06/29/2009 11:16 AM
Johnny Solarseed indeed. The genius of Neville Williams work was in recognizing that the solution was local. Individual solar panels on individual houses that cater to a families energy needs. He also figured out the financing - brilliant!
He also wrote a book about his experience that is a great read.
Lee Beckman LEED AP
06/19/2009 17:26 PM
This is a great story and we can all learn from his history and compassion. Solar is an ever evolving technology that has come from just an idea.
For green building education and consulting services: http://www.cleanedison.com
Alternative Profits
06/18/2009 06:17 AM
Well, it may be an immutable law that fossil-based electricity prices increase over time while renewables decrease, but I'm not sure it is gonna happen in 2012. Well, it could be even sooner, or who knows, much later. Simply because there are vested interests which can play around with fossil fuel prices. And if these fossil guys are lucky they might even end up finding more coal, oil and natural gas deposits, or they might be able to whack energy out of poor souls such as gas hydrates and oil.... More
Ted Baumgart
06/17/2009 12:12 PM
We open our solar house to the public once a year along with over 150,000 people in conjunction with the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour. As coordinator of our local group, the Valley Solar Amigos, our mission is to educate the public about how easy it is. I bought our solar modules in 1984 during the Carter Administration. Energy produced saved the cost of the purchase in about 5 years. We've been home free for decades. Misinformation and wrong headed notions are strong so.... More
Martin
06/16/2009 17:48 PM
Electricity generated from solar panels will help remote villagers with communication and provide some light for their evening. Solar cookers can be of a great benefit as well and they are low tech and cheap. They save women time and labor because many of them spend a large part of their days searching for firewood. They also reduce the amount of smoke that women breath in the course of preparing food..... More
