#electrical infrastructure
Hawaiian Electric to use helicopter in West Maui on April 17
Hawaiian Electric will be using a helicopter on Thursday, April 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the West Maui area, for assessment of the company’s electrical infrastructure. Exact times and locations are subject to change depending on weather conditions.
Hawaiian Electric using drones as a wildfire safety tool
Hawaiian Electric is raising awareness about its drone operations after one of its contracted drones was damaged while midair, downing the tool as it was being used to inspect overhead lines on Maui last week. Company representatives say the drone was purposely targeted. As part of its ongoing wildfire safety strategy, Hawaiian Electric is using unmanned aircrafts, or drones, for aerial inspections within Maui County, Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu to inspect its electrical infrastructure in identified wildfire risk areas.
US Energy Secretary tours Lahaina, pledging federal help to improve electric infrastructure, become more resilient
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm came to Maui to offer federal help for energy recovery from the fires and tout the US Energy Department’s $95 million grant to Hawaiian Electric for grid infrastructure improvements and wildfire mitigation.
