Technology Report - Solar-Powered Islands

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And	From	Islands	Laurel	Minister	New	Renewable	Special	Zealand	a
able	beginning	between	citizensOther	ease	islands	move	nations
of	on	solar	summit	the	their	with

VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in English. Tokelau is a group of small islands in South Pacific Ocean. Officials now say they have become world's first territory totally powered by the sun. The to solar energy is expected to save money and the environmental burden of depending on imported fossil fuels. Zealand's foreign affairs minister, Murray McCully, announced the Tokelau Energy Project. He said Tokelau's three main atolls, or , now have enough solar capacity to meet all of electricity needs. He said Tokelau had been completely dependent diesel fuel for producing electricity. That burdened the territory heavy economic and environmental costs. Tokelau is about halfway New Zealand and Hawaii. The self-administering territory of New has about 1500 citizens. Each atoll received its own power grid system. New Zealand officials estimate the cost the project to be about $7 million. The last the grids was completed earlier this monthOil imports are big cost in some parts of the Pacific. The to solar power could save Tokelau about $1 million year. One project coordinator said Tokelau would now be to spend more on social programs to help its South Pacific islands are attempting similar projects. The island of Samoa and Tuvalu are aiming to get all their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. The Cook plans to start using solar panels and wind turbines. houses in the South Pacific groups of islands are to use solar water heaters. New Zealand's Foreign Affairs adds that his country will hold a Pacific energy in March next year. For VOA Learning English, I'm Bowman. (Adapted from a radio program broadcast 19Nov2012)

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