The government proposes to set up 1100 MW grid connected solar plants in the country in the next three years under the first phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. These include 100 MW capacity plants as rooftop and small power plants. Official sources said, 15 regional rural banks have extended loans for procurement of over 64 thousand solar lighting systems by individuals between April 2009 and June this year. The sources said under the Lighting a Billion Lives (LaBL) campaign, 32 thousand solar lanterns have been distributed in 517 villages spreading over 16 states. Our Correspondent reports that The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) has developed low cost Light Emitting Diode (LED) solar lanterns in collaboration with the technology partners. The sources said that the government has also taken a decision to construct all its new buildings based on solar passive design and architecture which can help saving electricity to a large extent by becoming energy-efficient buildings.