Presentation to Discuss Wildlife-Friendly Wind Power in the Galapagos Islands

FALMOUTH, Maine, December 5, 2008—Jim Tolan of Arrowsic will discuss the challenges of developing wildlife-friendly wind power in the ecologically sensitive Galapagos Islands at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 15, at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Tolan of Industry and Energy Associates (IEA) in Portland, Maine, served as project director for the San Cristobal Wind Project in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. Supplying electricity to the San Cristobal Island’s 6,000 inhabitants, the three 600-kilowatt turbines built completed their first year of operation in October. The project’s goal was to take a solid step in introducing clean, renewable energy to the island without adversely impacting wildlife.

Of particular concern was the endangered Galapagos petrel, a seabird that nests on San Cristobal. Several elements were incorporated into the project plan to protect the fragile population, including placing turbines where the birds do not nest and burying electric transmission lines to keep out of the bird’s nocturnal flight routes, which a team had monitored using night-vision goggles. Other efforts included working to control the island’s rat and cat populations—which eat most of the Galapagos petrel’s eggs—fencing cattle pastures and managing invasive plant species.

In its first year of operation, the wind-power project supplied 31 percent of San Cristobal Island’s energy and kept 2,034 tons of carbon dioxide out of the air. The turbines are the first in Ecuador, which has a goal of making the Galapagos petroleum-free by 2017.

“This presentation may be about a place thousands of miles away, but it can help us talk about lessons that are very close to home,” said Jody Jones, Maine Audubon wildlife ecologist. “Wind power done the right way in the right places can give us clean energy without significantly harming wildlife—something we’re working toward in Maine.”

A potluck dinner will be held before the presentation starting at 5:30 p.m. Gilsland Farm Audubon Center is located at 20 Gilsland Farm Road, off Route 1 in Falmouth.

MAINE AUDUBON works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action. For more than 160 years, Maine Audubon has been connecting people with nature and leading science-based conservation in major projects across the state. An independent affiliate of Audubon’s national organization, Maine Audubon has seven local chapters, 11 nature centers and sanctuaries, and 11,000 members and supporters.

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