Public meetings planned on Transfer of Wind Energy using Undersea Cables

By Wendy Osher

Maalaea wind turbines at Kaheawa Wind Farm. File photo by Wendy Osher.

A series of public scoping meetings are planned to discuss the proposed Hawaii Interisland Renewable Energy Program (HIREP). The project seeks to produce renewable energy through the use of wind turbine technology on Lanai and possibly Molokai too, and transfer the electricity generated to Oahu by utilizing undersea cables.

The cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Energy and the State of Hawaii proposes the generation of up to 400 MW of wind power. Future expansion of the program could include other types of renewable technologies.

The electricity generated could potentially displace about 15% of Oahu’s oil consumption; but the project has raised concerns among neighbor island residents who worry about the impact of the facility on the smaller islands and assuring some of the benefits are balanced to include the neighbor islands.

The meeting dates and times are as follows:

• OAHU: February 1, 2011: McKinley High School Cafeteria, 1039 S. King St., Honolulu, from 5:30-9 p.m.
• MAUI: February 2, 2011: Pomaikai Elementary School Cafeteria, 4650 S. Kamehameha Ave., Kahului, from 5:30-9 p.m.
• MOLOKAI: February 3, 2011: Mitchell Pauole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai, Molokai, from 5:30-9 p.m.
• LANAI: February 5, 2011: Lanai High and Elementary School Cafeteria, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Requests to speak should be made on or before January 28, 2011 by making a request to any of the following contacts: by email to [email protected]; submitting comments on the EIS web page at www.hirep-wind.com; by fax to (808) 586-2536 attn: Allen G. Kam; or by mail to: Allen G Kam, DBEDT Renewable Energy Branch, P.O. Box 2359, Honolulu HI 96804.

Priority speaking order will be given to requests made by January 28, 2011 by the above means.