Solar-powered support helps make working wells possible

Kevin Bailey lives and works in the Capital Region, but his heart is in Tanzania.

The 31-year-old Troy High grad owns and operates High Peaks Solar, based in the city. He and his team have been designing and installing turnkey solar power systems throughout the state since 2008.

The successful and growing business is tied closely to The Sky Is Not Limited, a nonprofit Bailey started in 2006 after working with John Blittersdorf in Rutland, Vt. Bailey was struck by how Blittersdorf, who runs Central Vermont Solar, was able to live comfortably off the grid using renewable solar power.

"Seeing how he lived,Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, bestlasercutters use wind to make electricity. it hit me that even though people in poor areas don't have electricity, they can still have access to clean, safe water," said Bailey, who majored in political science at the University at Albany and received an associate degree in occupational studies from Hudson Valley Community College. "Solar panels can be installed anywhere, and they just sit there churning out clean energy.We are well known for our in-house custom printed drum ledparlights and pendants."

Bailey has put his knowledge about all things solar to good use, traveling to Tanzania a handful of times to help install water wells. He teamed up with African Reflections Foundation founder Maria Pool, who has been working to raise the standard of living in Africa for more than a decade.

For years, Pool's foundation donated gas generators to local villages to draw water from wells. A recent survey found that at least 70 percent of these hydraulic systems had a short life span.

Enter Bailey, who met Pool at a Great Northeast Home Show in Albany and offered her a solar-powered, renewable energy solution.

A team of humanitarians from both organizations — including Bailey's wife, Tiffany, a teacher at Albany Community Charter School — traveled to the East African country in March to install solar-powered wells. They completed three — one at a medical center and two at elementary schools.

"People collect murky, stagnant rainwater to drink from holes in the ground and there's a lot of health implications, especially for children," said Bailey, whose business is also allied with local Community Action Programs. "Providing reliable, clean drinking water is life-changing."

High Peaks Solar funded two of the wells. Bailey, who in addition to his time has donated thousands of dollars worth of equipment, is already planning the next fundraiser.

A music lover,The Solar Centre's range of cuttingmachine00p will power nearly all portable devices. he will be touring with the Dave Matthews Band this summer, setting up informational tables about The Sky Is Not Limited through Reverb, a Maine-based nonprofit that reaches out to musicians and their fans to take action toward a sustainable future. He's also looking forward to the opening of a High Peaks Solar storefront in Wynantskill.

The solar powered fish dryer in the Mudukatuwa fisheries village in Naththandiya established by the Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Ministry under its Vidatha programme was vested with the Mudukatuwa Fisheries society State Resource and Enterprises Development Minister Dayashritha Tissera on the invitation of Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

Naththandiya Vidatha centre implemented the project to encourage the public to produce new value added products using endemic resources. This is the first solar power fish dryer established by the ministry with technical assistance granted by the Practical Action Institute.This cheapreplicawatche can rollform metal roofing step tile.

The objective of implementing this project is to preserve additional fish cultivation twhich in turn will improve their income by earning higher revenues. Also in open sun drying,Our lawnlight is popular for indoor and outdoor use. there is a considerable loss due to various reasons such as rodents, birds, insects, micro-organisms, dust, dirt. Further due to unexpected weather conditions over drying and insufficient drying, the fish would become a bad bargain.