Israel offers Egypt to build solar power stations in Sinai

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1150950.html

Israel offers Egypt to build solar power stations in Sinai

By Avi Bar-Eli

On his recent trip to Egypt, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed a joint solar energy project to President Hosni Mubarak. Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who accompanied Netanyahu, unveiled the proposal yesterday at the Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Conference held in Eilat.

Egypt would provide the land for solar power plants in the Sinai, while Israel would provide the technology and operate the facilities. This would be similar to the Desertech initiative to provide 15% of Europe's energy needs by 2050 by building solar power plants in North Africa.

Ben-Eliezer said Mubarak showed interest and said he would examine the matter. Ben-Eliezer told the conference of his dream to turn the Negev and Arava into the Silicon Valley of renewable energy.

The Foreign Ministry's Rafael Harpaz told the conference that renewable energy is a topic that allows Israel to rebrand itself in the world and create an atmosphere for doing business. "African countries have an enormous potential for Israel's solar technology companies," he said.

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[howaboutme]

1. But USA always pays

Isn't that the way it typically works in that region? The players there make the decisions while US Wal-Mart workers get to pay the costs from their dwindling retirement funds and taxes. I find it an outrage that USA citizens are forced by our own government to pay tribute to the Middle East.