The expense of extending the conventional electric power utility-grid to remote loca- tions (about $20,000 per mile in the U. S. ) often prohibits the installation of electric lighting, common household appliances, television receivers, and other telecommuni- cations equipment in such locations. Additionally, the installation of important, but perhaps seldom noticed, electronic equipment such as remote automatic weather moni- toring stations, microwave telephone repeaters on mountain tops, and earth-bound navi- gational aids for commercial aircraft and ships, is also impeded by the difficulty...