March 5, 2022
Hawaii

Hawaii bill could nix plans for an offshore wind farm developer

By Duane Shimogawa | KITV | Mar 4, 2022 | www.kitv.com

Three developers are planning to build offshore wind energy farms near the Hawaiian Islands. But a Hawaii bill that state lawmakers advanced on Friday may prevent one of those projects from being built.

Senate bill 2535 would allow offshore wind farms to be built no closer than 12 miles to the shoreline of any Hawaiian Island.

Hawaiian Electric say it is reviewing three lease requests from two different developers for offshore wind farms in Hawaii.

Two of those projects appear to either meet or exceed the 12-mile setback established by this bill. The developer of a third proposed project appears to be requesting a lease for project that would start about nine miles from the shore.

Under the requirements of this bill, the project would be potentially eliminated.

The bill now heads to a vote by the full Senate. That vote is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2022/03/05/hawaii-bill-could-nix-plans-for-an-offshore-wind-farm-developer/