First Wind announced that it has celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony of its 69 MW Kawailoa Wind project in Hawaii. The wind facility is constructed on Kawailoa Plantation lands of Kamehameha Schools, located on the Northern Shore of Oahu.
The project will utilize 30 units of Siemens’ 2.3 MW wind turbines. This is the company’s fourth project in Hawaii and the largest wind energy project in the state. RMT, a firm specializing in the design and construction of clean energy facilities, will lead the construction activities of the project. Once completed, the Kawailoa Wind project will generate renewable energy, which is sufficient to meet as much as 5% of annual electrical demand in Oahu. It is also equivalent to powering about 14,500 homes in the island.
A power purchase agreement (PPA) between Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) and First Wind was approved by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in December 2011. Hawaii state law authorizes 70% clean, renewable energy for electricity and transportation by 2030. The Kawailoa Wind project will support the state to advance towards these objectives.
Kamehameha Schools’ Renewable Energy Sector Lead and Regional Asset Manager, Giorgio Caldarone remarked that in addition to helping Hawaii to meet its renewable energy objectives, the project will also support continuous agricultural production for the benefit of future generations.
First Wind has worked with the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the wind energy project.
Other wind energy projects owned and operated by First Wind in Hawaii include a 30 MW Kaheawa Wind and two Kaheawa Wind projects.
Source: http://www.firstwind.com/