AL GORE Presents Global Award For Sustainable Energy Projects With New Jersey Supported Tanzanian Enterprise As Finalist

Bloomfield, NJ- On June 21, 2007 in London, Former Vice President Al Gore will present the winners of the 2007 Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, rewarding a select few renewable energy pioneers from across the globe. The prestigious Ashden Award acknowledges and promotes innovative projects in the U.K. and developing countries that tackle climate change and improve quality of life. One of the selected ten finalists is Zara Solar Ltd, the leading provider of solar PV in Northern Tanzania and supported enterprise of New Jersey based E+Co.

Zara Solar (Mona Mwanza Solar’s new PV company) was established in 1998 by local Tanzanian entrepreneur Mohammed Parpia. Living in an area that was completely underserved by the national grid, Mr. Parpia was looking for solutions and found them through the supported business development services and financing of E+Co; a non-profit that stimulates channels of investment in environmentally superior forms of energy production and use in developing countries.

With one of the lowest rates of electrification in the world, only 10% of the Tanzanian population has access to the electricity grid, and in rural areas that number drops to 2%. “There remains a huge demand for electricity that the Tanzanian national grid simply can not meet,� says Gina Rodolico, E+Co’s Director of Information and Communication. “Yet E+Co believes that by empowering local entrepreneurs, such as Mr. Parpia, universal sustainable energy is an achievable goal.�

Since its inception Mr. Parpia’s company has provided over 3,600 solar PV systems, directly benefiting over 18,000 people in rural Tanzania. Studies also predict that the continued use of PV systems for the provision of electricity service in the region will generate a reduction of approximately 29,000 tons of carbon dioxide over the next 20 years.

Held on June 21st, 2007 at the Royal Geographical Society in London, the Ashden Awards ceremony will commence the final stage of the international competition. Former Vice President and Presenter Al Gore, comments that, “The Ashden Awards are a powerful reminder that well designed and managed local sustainable energy initiatives can tackle climate change while meeting the needs of local communities.�

If successful, Zara Solar will utilize the Ashden Award money in multiple areas. These include setting up service centres in rural areas allowing technicians to buy stock locally; piloting a micro-finance system; and lastly, marketing solar PV systems on a broader scale.

Zara Solar Ltd, is the leading provider of solar PV in Northern Tanzania. A top finalist to receive the Ashden Award, Zara Solar is an E+Co supported enterprise offering high quality systems, at affordable prices to communities lacking access to a reliable energy sources.

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy reward and promote innovative projects in the U.K. and developing countries which tackle climate change and improve quality of life. By utilizing local renewable energy, awareness is increased around the potential solutions sustainable energy provides. The Ashen Awards aim to encourage renewable energy engagements across the world. For further information, including details on funders and supporters, visit www.ashdenawards.org.

E+Co is a New Jersey based non-profit organization whose underlying purpose is to stimulate long-term, institutionalized channels of investment in environmentally superior forms of energy production and use in developing countries. As the leading provider of services and capital to modern energy enterprises in developing countries, E+Co has offices in Bolivia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, the Netherlands, South Africa, Thailand and the United States. For more information visit www.eandco.net.



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