Ecuador Moves Toward Hydroelectric Energy

Moving away from dependence on oil, Ecuador is in the process of constructing 8 hydroelectric dams, all of which are scheduled to be finished by 2016. With the first recently inaugurated, the completion of the remaining seven will allow for 93% of energy in the country to be hydraulic. While Ecuador is undertaking these massive development projects, in 2008 it was also the first country in the world to stipulate the rights of nature in the Constitution of Montecristi, which the government is seeking to uphold and protect.