Solar Flashlight Lets Africa’s Sun Deliver the Luxury of Light to the Poorest Villages

By WILL CONNORS and RALPH BLUMENTHAL
Published: May 20, 2007

FUGNIDO, Ethiopia — a former foreign service officer and Houston oilman, has spent $250,000 to develop and manufacture a solar-powered flashlight.

His invention gives up to seven hours of light on a daily solar recharge and can last nearly three years between replacements of three AA batteries costing 80 cents.