Solar Power Heroes

by Deb Powers

Stephen Gold is a San Francisco building contractor who specializes in plumbing and electrical supplies. He is also a long time fan of solar power - his own house sports solar panels. He also feels very strongly about the conservation of the wild habitat for the animals that call it home. As he told a reporter for the Chronicle, "You go into the bush and look in the eyes of another animal, and it changes you," he said. "I want future generations to see these animals."

A few years ago, he was attending a wildlife conservation workshop and heard one of the researchers complaining about power generation, and how unreliable electricity can make her research work so much more difficult. It occurred to him that kerosene and gasoline power generators might not be the ideal solution for powering research equipment in an unspoiled landscape. That started him on a quest to supply remote research stations with solar-powered generators and equipment.

More on solar power charities.