An elementary school in Saldang, Nepal, has electricity for the first time ever, thanks to Hartford Public High School's Academy of Engineering and Green Technology. A group of students designed a solar-powered wind turbine, which was then transported 11,000 miles from Connecticut to the remote Himalayan village to provide the school with heated classrooms and energy to power laptops.
Located at an altitude of nearly 13,000 ft, the school is accessible only by yak and closed between October and April. Connecticut philanthropist Peter Werth learned of the school's challenges on a trip to Nepal and approached Bruce Dixon, CEO of the Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program, who suggested the Hartford school for the project. Also providing support was the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.