Status Report on Auwahi Wind Farm

The Maui Planning Commission has accepted the Final EIS for the Auwahi Wind Farm. Auwahi Wind Energy LLC (Auwahi Wind) is proposing to construct a wind farm with a net generating capacity of approximately 21 megawatts (MW), augmented with a battery energy storage system. The proposed Project would also include an operations and maintenance facility and related infrastructure, a 14.5-kilometer 34.5-kilovolt (kV) generator-tie line, an interconnection substation, a microwave communication tower, and a construction access route along existing public and private roadways.

Of the 50 states, Hawai„i is the most dependent on imported energy. In 2005, approximately 95 percent of Hawaiʻi‟s primary energy was derived from imported fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. In an attempt to alleviate its dependence on imported fuels, Hawai„i required HECO, and affiliate MECO, to generate renewable energy equivalent to 40 percent by 2030. Furthermore, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2007 requires the Hawai„i greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions be reduced to levels at or less than 1990 levels by January 2020.

The proposed Project would help to meet these regulations by providing clean, renewable wind energy for the island of Maui while displacing GHG emissions from fossil-fueled electrical generation. The proposed Project would also provide economic benefits to the local community through contributions into the economy, generation of new jobs, and introduction of a stable, long term source of tax revenue for the state and county. The power generated by the wind farm would provide long-term price stability for consumers. Additionally, ʻUlupalakua Ranch would continue to utilize the lands for cattle ranching operations.

Auwahi Wind completed desktop and field-based analyses for biological, cultural, visual, air, and noise resources that could be potentially affected by the proposed Project. In general, Project-related impacts would be small relative to the benefits that the addition of renewable energy to MECO would provide. Where potentially significant impacts were identified, Auwahi Wind developed appropriate measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts. In all resource areas, neither significant cumulative impacts nor secondary impacts would result from Project construction or operations. While the No Action Alternative would avoid the environmental impacts identified in the EIS, it would not meet the objectives of the proposed Project including contributing to Hawaiʻi‟s Renewable Portfolio Standard, providing economic benefits to the local community, or providing long term displacement of GHG emissions from fossil-fueled electrical generation.