ELECTRIC MOMENT: US President Barack Obama shakes the hand of Surendra Thapa from Nepal on Tuesday in Denver after announcing his $787 billion economic stimulus package that emphasises solar and renewable energy development. Thapa was born in Kabhre and worked his way up from being a domestic to work as an engineer at Namaste Solar in Denver.

Surendra Thapa was born in Kabhre, came to Kathmandu to work as a domestic.After SLC he started working at the Kathmandu-based solar energy company, Lotus Energy in Bhatbhateni.

Surendra worked his way up from messenger boy at Lotus to production manager. Five years go, he got a diversity visa and emigrated to the United States. He went to work at Namaste Solar founded by Blake Jones, who was one of the original investors at Lotus.

Namaste Solar is based in Denver where President Barack Obama this week announced a $787 billion economic stimulus package on non-oil renewable energy research and development. The Obama plan hopes to create millions of new green jobs in the United States in the next three years.

Obama signed the new bill into law at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver where Namaste Solar has installed a large solar array on the roof. Blake's company was about to lay off half of its 55 staff due to financial problems, but with the pro-renewable emphasis of the Obama administration, Namaste Solar will not just be keeping its current projects but will also expand.

The entire Namaste Solar staff including Surendra were on hand to witness the historic signing ceremony which was beamed live on television worldwide.

Later, Obama and his vice president, Joseph Biden toured the roof to inspect the solar panels that produces the electricity for the museum.

"I am extremely proud of our friends Surendra and Blake for this amazing achievement of promotion of solar energy, which will benefit us all," said Jeevan Goff of Lotus Energy who mentored Surendra while he was in Nepal.