New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, writing while on a trip to India, reflects on the possibilities if an energy technology revolution could bring distributed energy and renewables to remote regions of the world, in his column today.

"If only we could make a breakthrough in clean, distributed power -- an E.T. revolution -- it could drive the I.T. revolution into every forgotten corner of the world to create jobs, light up schools and tap the innovative prowess of rural populations, like India’s 700 million villagers. There is a green Edison growing up out here -- if only we can give them the light to learn."

Friedman says many Indian workers could avoid the noise, pollution and impersonal environment of the city, if the countryside experienced an energy technology revolution.

The Byrraju Foundation's leader told Friedman that just one of his rural outsourcing centers creates the equivalent employment and salaries of 400 acres of farmland.