April 11, 2008 Galapogos Islands go green Play video

(Marnie MacLean, NECN: Galapagos Islands) - It was a tough assignment: figure out how to bring renewable energy to one of the most environmentally sensitive places on the planet. That place is the Galapagos Islands -- home to a large number of rare and endangered animals. Those animals are threatened by increased tourism and a growth of island residents.

An engineer in Maine took on the challenge of saving them by bringing in wind power. Jim Tolan is back at his engineering firm in Portland, Maine, but for the last five years he's spent much of his time working to bring wind power to the islands.

The Galapagos Islands are about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, along the equator.

Several years ago, a tanker spilled 150,000 gallons of oil into the harbor, threatening the wildlife there. The government of Ecuador asked some of the world's biggest electric companies for help to bring renewable energy to the island. Together, they chose Jim Tolan in Portland, Maine to take on the project.

It wasn't easy, but the job got done. Now, three 800 kilowatt wind turbines provide 50% of San Cristobel's power. Ecuador eventually wants to make the Galapagos run on 100% renewable energy.