New Episode of Resources Radio on Rural Energy Access
WASHINGTON, DC—Resources for the Future (RFF) today released a new installment of Resources Radio: “Shedding Light on Rural Energy Access, with Subhrendu Pattanayak.”
Host Daniel Raimi talks with Subhrendu Pattanayak, the Oak Foundation Environmental and Energy Policy Professor at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Pattanayak explains the different ways energy access can be improved in rural communities, with a focus on Nepal. Pattanayak also discusses the economics of rural electricity access and his research on the subject.
Notable quotes from the podcast:
- “A billion people around the world don't have electricity, and maybe another two billion don't have reliable electricity. That's about half the world that just doesn't have that ability to switch on a switch in the morning and get their cup of coffee. So this is a justice issue, this is a distributional issue, [and] a humanitarian issue.”—Subhrendu Pattanayak (4:43)
- “Some of the electrification that's happening in the world is happening on the back of coal. And coal is neither sustainable nor very clean, as sort of implemented around the world mostly. I think [for] a long-term, clean, sustainable energy solution, some of these hydro-renewable solutions are also part of it.”—Subhrendu Pattanayak (17:59)
- “I think we should be looking at these [electricity access] systems more through sort of general reform principles, not really saying it's private or public. Those labels don't really mean much in these settings.”—Subhrendu Pattanayak (20:22)
Resources Radio is a weekly podcast series exploring timely environmental, energy, and natural resources topics, and can be found on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
Resources for the Future (RFF) is an independent, nonprofit research institution in Washington, DC. Its mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. RFF is committed to being the most widely trusted source of research insights and policy solutions leading to a healthy environment and a thriving economy.
Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may differ from those of other RFF experts, its officers, or its directors. RFF does not take positions on specific legislative proposals.
For more information, please see our media resources page or contact Media Relations and Communications Specialist Annie McDarris.
