In 1934, Lewis Mumford critiqued the industrial energy system as a key source of authoritarian economic and political tendencies in modern life. Recent debate continues to engage issues of energy authoritarianism, focusing on the contest between energy-driven globalization (the spread of energy deregulation and the simultaneous consolidation of the oil, coal, and gas industries) and the so-called "sustainable energy" strategy that celebrates the local and community scale characteristics of renewable energy. Including theoretical inquiries and case studies by distinguished writers, Transforming Power is divided into three parts: Energy, Environment, and Society; The Politics of Conventional Energy; and The Politics of Sustainable Energy. It interrogates current contemporary energy assumptions, exploring the reflexive relationship between energy, environment, and society, and examining energy as a social project. Some of these have promised a prosperous future founded upon technological advances that further modernize the modern energy system, such as "inherently safe" nuclear power, environmentally friendly coal gasification, and the advent of a wealthier, cleaner world powered by fuel cells; and the "green technologies," said by advocates to prefigure a revival of human scale development, local self-determination, and a commitment to ecological balance. >br> This volume offers a timely engagement of the social issues surrounding energy conflicts and contradictions. It will be of interest to policymakers, energy and environmental experts, sociologists, and historians of technology. John Byrne is director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy (CEEP) and Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at the University of Delaware. Noah Toly is a research associate and Ph.D. candidate in the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Delaware. Leigh Glover is policy fellow and assistant professor in the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Delaware.

Rural Electrification poses solutions to the insuperable modern challenge of providing 24/7 electricity for populations, housing and territory located outside towns and cities. The book reviews the historical development of rural energy systems, their status quo, and the role of renewable and fossil fueled solutions in delivering electricity. It addresses core issues of energy source typologies, resource deployment, fundamental challenges and limitations, the burgeoning threat of climate change, and the role of the renewable energy transition. Chapters account for almost all forms of fuel solutions, with a focus on electrification economics, planning, and policy using the most cost-effective fuels and systems available. Novel approaches to address the challenges of rural electrification, including distributed generation systems, new management and ownership models, off-grid systems, and future energy technologies are thoroughly explored. The work concludes with a comparative assessment of different energy supply technologies and scenarios, contrasting the pros and cons of fossil fuels versus renewable energy resources to achieve the goal of comprehensive rural electrification. - Provides a suite of new approaches to deliver and expand electrification across challenging rural environments - Describes optimal economics, planning and policy for electrification where there is no access to electricity - Reviews how practitioners can achieve cost reductions for rural energy supply using existing technologies - Addresses routes to power rural electrification within a transitioning energy economy while simultaneously accounting for climate change considerations

Contains additions to and changes in the general and permanent laws of the United States enacted during the 108th Congress, 1st Session.

This book discusses the energy issues facing Bangladesh, specifically the lack of access to electricity that impedes overall development. In-depth chapters examine critical energy problems and provide possible solutions including energy conversion and energy efficiency and the utilization of energy reform strategies for further development of the energy sector. This book is useful to students and practitioners seeking a clearer understanding of contemporary energy issues, energy markets and their sustainable development, including modern technologies for energy conversion from as waste and strategies for efficiency. It presents thought-provoking ideas and strategies to help Bangladesh achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and transition to an upper-middle income country by 2021, through the utilization of proper energy policies.

Based on research presented at The Harvard Business School’s first-ever conference on business approaches to poverty alleviation, Business Solutions for the Global Poor brings together perspectives from leading academics and corporate, non-profit and public sector managers. The contributors draw on practical and dynamic how-to insights from leading BOP ventures from more than twenty countries world-wide. This important volume reflects poverty’s multi-faceted nature and a broad range of actors—multinational and local businesses, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations and governments—that play a role in its alleviation.

The use of microfinance for poverty reduction and economic development in the developing world is growing. However, this concept needs to be expanded to ensure its successful application for achieving longer-term economic growth and sustainability in developing countries, particularly in parts of the world such as Africa. As such, further research into the relationship between microfinance and sustainable development in developing regions is required to fully understand the opportunities for effective use of microfinance for poverty reduction and economic development. Microfinance and Sustainable Development in Africa examines the complex relationship between receipt of microfinance, poverty reduction, economic growth, and microbusiness development, focusing on the provision of small credit facilities as a driver of sustainable development in Africa. Its coverage of topics such as microbusiness, social finance, and sustainable development make this book an ideal reference source for academicians, researchers, government officials, policymakers, organizations, managers, instructors, and students.

While there have been numerous books and articles written on the popular topic of microfinance , few books have been written on the business model behind it: the microenterprise . Due to its diversity of thought and high quality of chapter contributions, this book is poised to be the book on microenterprises . Contemporary Microenterprise is a collage of the latest research and viewpoints on the subject by recognized academics and experts from around the globe. Through the confluence of diverse and profound voices from around the world, very small (micro) businesses have proven to be the most prevalent and fastest-growing business form, and a suitable model for enterprise survival and success in a challenging global economy. Joseph Mark Munoz has brought together an international cast of contributors, and draws insights from concepts and cases from locations such as Vietnam, the United States, Latin America and Africa. The chapters include conceptual frameworks and research that yield valuable lessons and practical business solutions. The broad scope of this compendium, coupled with its careful attention to detail, will be of critical value to business students and their professors, industry executives, government officials, policymakers, consultants and entrepreneurs.