The Maldives announced yesterday a plan to go carbon neutral within the next decade. The project will cost $1.1 billion to install renewable energy across the nation’s 250 inhabited islands.

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed said that the nation would achieve carbon neutrality through 155 1.5-MW wind turbines, a half-square kilometer solar farm and forgoing fossil fuels. Since much of the nation’s economy is based on tourism, greenhouse gases emitted by air travel will have to be offset with EU carbon credits.

The nation is privatizing their electric utility to open up funds for the effort and it will be looking for outside investments as well.

Island nations like The Maldives have been front runners for drastic climate change initiatives because they’re likely to suffer great consequences from sea level changes and harsher tropical storms. The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, averaging 1.5 meters above sea level. Also, their smaller populations and remoteness make them great candidates for renewable energy.

In the U.S., Hawaii has been pushing for much greater renewable energy standards compared to other states, planning to get 70 percent of the state’s electricity from renewables by 2030.

via Earth2Tech