This week's "Weekend Edition" by NPR focuses on the island of El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa. The island is gearing up for becoming the only place to run on 100 percent renewable energy that hasn't previously been hooked up to a power grid. The island supports over 10,000 people, and it uses two hydroelectric plants and an 11.5 megawatt wind farm. They also have a water desalination plant for fresh drinking water.
The island used to run on diesel fuel that was imported on ships, but it was getting very expensive and wasn't good for the environment. It was importing as much as 6,600 tons of diesel fuel annually. The Spanish government was part of the project to change the island, since it controls the island, and it was one of the last renewable energy plans approved by the government before it cut subsidies for such projects. Not only is the island making itself run on completely renewable energy for their homes and businesses, but they plan to use only electric cars by the year 2020. They hope these innovations will encourage tourists to come see the island.