Nathan Meixler

About Me:
I have a strong interest in many subjects which has contributed to my unique and diverse background. Most recently I worked for EyeTracking, Inc. an innovative consulting company specializing in objective market research. Before that I received a BA in Astronomy and Physics from Boston University. Although still fascinated by the cosmos, my decision to volunteer at GENI stems from more terrestrial concerns. Primarily, I have a desire to help spark social-change to improve the planet. At GENI I am working on a research project dedicated to developing a financially sustainable business model for the large-scale electrification of rural villages through renewable sources. I hope to use my quantitative research experience in the future to pursue a career in economic research for social change and the greater good.

About the Project:
An estimated 1.6 Billion people have no access to electricity. These people almost entirely fall in impoverished rural regions of relatively undeveloped countries. The vast majority of these are in SouthEast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Without electricity, these villages lack some of the basics easily taken for granted in developed parts of the world. Lighting for schools, homes and businesses, refrigeration for medicine and food preservation, and other basic amenities are non-existent in these parts of the world. Bringing electricity to these areas is essential to ultimately increase economic activity and improve quality of life. The challenges of bringing electrification to this demographic are many and generally take the form of geographic, political, and financial constraints. To date, there have been numerous programs funded and implemented by various aid organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank and NGOs. These programs focus on electrification of small subsets of the rural population in various countries and have resulted in limited success. Most suffer from limited coverage and a lack of financial sustainability. It is GENI’s desire to devise a financially viable, sustainable, and profitable business model for rural electrification using renewable energy sources.

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