Then there is no electricity - very few villagers can afford to rent a line from a creaky generator which fires up once a day.

BBC: NEWS | South Asia | Afghan village mirrors national plight

While gas-fired power plants are popping up like dandelions across America, just one coal-fired generator was brought on line in the first half of 2012, the EIA reports.

MSN: 'War on coal'? Why Obama might not be industry's worst enemy

Carnival said the ship's emergency diesel generator failed, but the cruise line disputed notions of a widespread system failure.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The 360-tonne oil-fired generator was due to come on line last month but problems were identified while it was tested for 30 days.

BBC: Guernsey Electricity generator launch delayed