Mountain village powers through war with its own tiny hydro network
In western Ukraine’s Ust-Chorna, a trio of micro-hydroelectric plants has kept the village’s lights on through wartime blackouts, illustrating both the promise and limits of Ukraine’s shift to decentralized green energy. While residents benefit from reliable power and potential new income from small producers, debates over electricity prices, environmental impact, and the durability of government incentives linger as Kyiv nudges more communities toward local, renewable generation amid ongoing attacks on centralized grids.