Tapping Into God's Grid  

Truemors reports that the Amish have started to adopt solar panels - Amish “Tapping Into God’s Grid” With Solar Power.

Belmont Solar has seen a big jump in demand for its solar products in the last two years, though the clientele may surprise some: the local Amish population. The widespread stereotype of the Amish as non-users of technology isn’t quite accurate, as one scholar of the religious group explains: “The Amish decide on whether to adapt to a new technology based on two implications: their separation from the world and the impact on the community.” Solar panels are replacing the more expensive generators, but they still aren’t using the electricity for technology that breaks down traditional cultural ties, such as television or video games, focusing their precious power on sewing machines, buggy lights and other work-related machinery

Roof tiles on the Paul VI auditorium - used in poor weather for the Pope's weekly audience with pilgrims - are being replaced by 2,700 solar panels. The photovoltaic cells will convert sunlight into electricity, generating enough power to light, heat or cool the 6,000 seat hall, engineers say.

Conserving global resources has been a priority for the German-born Pope. Since he was elected in 2005, Benedict XVI has criticised "the unbalanced use of energy" in the world. He has also said environmental damage was making "the lives of poor people on earth especially unbearable".