Comments Accepted on Auwahi Wind Incidental Take Application

By Wendy Osher

The comment period is open for the public to provide input on Auwahi Wind Energy’s application for an Incidental Take License. The wind farm project is projected to generate an estimated 21 megawatts of electricity on the Valley Isle.

Construction of the project has the potential to result in the incidental take of threatened or endangered species under federal protection.  Species that could be be affected include the uaʻu or Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis); nēnē or Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis); ʻŌpeʻapeʻa or Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus); and the Blackburn’s sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni).

The company has developed a Habitat Conservation Plan to help ensure recovery and benefit of species potentially affected.The plan outlines measure to avoid, minimize, mitigate, and monitor the take of threatened or endangered species.

Comment is open through September 27.  To comment on the draft Habitat Conservation Plan, comments can be sent to:

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl Street Room 325, Honolulu, HI, 96813. Attention: HCP Coordinator Sandee Hufana or email comments to: [email protected].

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife will also hold a public hearing on Maui to receive public comments on the draft Habitat Conservation Plan. The date and location of the public hearing will be made available to the public via legal notice to be published at a later date.

For more information on the Auwahi Wind Project, visit our previous post: PUC Approves Maui Electric, Sempra Wind Contract.