Electricity powers more normalcy in Iraq suburb

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Sgt. Ryan Merriman of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery patrols the Taji Power Station on Tuesday. Local residents typically receive between 12 and 16 hours of power from the national grid each day, well above what residents in Baghdad receive.


Electricity powers more normalcy in Iraq suburb
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, September 6, 2008

TAJI, Iraq — Residents living around this northern Baghdad suburb have begun complaining about the two- to four-hour blackouts that happen here daily. U.S. soldiers consider it a huge success.

That’s because in some areas south, especially in parts of the Iraqi capital, one or two hours of electricity a day from the national power grid is the norm.

While not ideal, the 14-plus hours of electricity residents of Taji receive — and even more in the areas in the more rural north — is a testament to how far the region has progressed, according to Maj. Anthony Barbina, brigade engineer for the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

A year ago, a few short hours of power was the best residents could hope for.

"It all starts with electricity," he said. "You can’t irrigate the fields without power to run pumps. You can’t run factories without power. That’s why this is so important."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=57222