Haiti leader launches power program (AP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti ? Haitian President Michel Martelly hopes a new government program will double the number of homes that have power within two years.

The leader says the project aims to help 200,000 households in two of the most remote corners of the country purchase solar kits.

Local banks will issue $30 million loans at an interest rate of 7 percent to help families buy the devices that will supply energy to power cellphones or computers.

The government says that only 30 percent of Haiti has access to power lines. Even then, most Haitians only have electricity for a few hours a day.

Wealthy Haitians, foreign diplomats and aid workers must rely on generators and expensive fuel imports to power their homes and businesses.

The announcement came Monday.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_haiti_energy

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