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Wind Power News: Hawaii
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Remembering Big Wind’s Big Fail On Lanai
Kirstin Downey’s recent article (“The Struggle Over Towering Wind Farms Is At The Center Of A Honolulu City Council Debate,” Sept. 21) rightly highlights the Kahuku community’s critical role in helping to inform public opinion regarding the negative community impacts of industrial wind power plants. She writes: “When they first arrived in Hawaii about a decade ago, the turbines were initially welcomed but North Shore residents were shocked by their huge size and disturbed to learn they posed deadly hazards . . . Complete story »
The struggle over towering wind farms is at the center of a Honolulu City Council debate
A backlash has arisen against industrial wind turbines, with Kahuku residents leading the charge, raising an alarm about the problems the 40-story towers constructed there have created for them and for their children – pulsating noises, flickering shadows, and what they say are sleep disruptions, depression and new neurological ailments. In 2015, the Legislature mandated the state would eliminate fossil fuels by 2045 and turn to renewable energy sources like solar and wind. At first Hawaii residents eagerly embraced wind turbines, . . . Complete story »
Hawaii Supreme Court upholds Oahu wind farm
Big Wind scored a major victory in the Hawaii Supreme Court with the unanimous affirmation of a lower court decision approving the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Incidental Take License (ITL) for the Na Pua Makani wind power project on Oahu’s north shore. Local wildlife activists who have long opposed industrial wind facilities in the Aloha State expressed disappointment at the decision. The Conservation Council of Hawaii, an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, opposes offshore industrial wind facilities and . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind energy bill sails through Hawaii senate
Onshore wind energy projects in Hawaii have been controversial in the past. In 2019, Kahuku residents led protests against the Na Pua Makani wind farm on the North Shore. They argued that the turbines, the largest on Oahu, were too big and too close to homes and schools. Complete story »
Hawaii bill could nix plans for an offshore wind farm developer
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 . . . Complete story »
Court upholds decision on North Shore wind farm
The Hawaii Supreme Court last week rejected Keep the North Shore Country’s appeal of a lower court ruling upholding the state Board of Land and Natural Resources’ approval of a habitat conservation plan and incidental take license for Na Pua Makani LLC’s 25-megawatt wind farm on Oahu’s North Shore. In 2018, following state and federal agency review, public meetings and a contested case hearing, BLNR approved the plan and license, which would allow the wind turbines to kill up to . . . Complete story »
Upgrades coming to Hawi wind farm
Improvements, but not an increase in wind turbines, are coming to the Hawi Energy wind farm at Upolu Point as the company proposes a 20-year extension to its power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric Co. Hawi Renewable Development LLC has scheduled an online community meeting about the improvements, set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday. To register, visit https://hawienergy.com . North Kohala Councilman Tim Richards welcomes the expansion project. He said Hawi Energy has been a “good neighbor,” and an “obvious partner” . . . Complete story »
This North Shore community has had enough of towering wind turbines
On a recent morning, Sunny Unga, a community activist fighting the presence of a wind farm surrounding her community, stood on the playground of Kahuku Elementary School and showed off the view. In one direction, not far in the distance, a phalanx of a dozen white wind turbines towered on the verdant lands of Oahu’s North Shore. Closer by were two clusters of four windmills each, which make up AES Corp.’s Na Pua Makani project. Each windmill is as tall . . . Complete story »
Do we want more local food or cheaper power? Two Hawaii priorities conflict
Honolulu’s effort to implement a landmark state agricultural lands policy faces opposition from major players in the state’s renewable energy industry, highlighting a significant challenge Hawaii faces as it tries to produce more of its own food and electricity in an island chain with limited available land. Gov. David Ige had set a goal of doubling Hawaii’s food production. Meanwhile the Legislature put in place a mandate of producing 100% of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2045. But . . . Complete story »
Bills aim to expand distance between turbines and homes on Oahu
The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday will take up three measures that aim to increase the distance between wind turbines and neighboring property. The law currently requires wind turbines to be a distance at least equal to the height of the structure away from property lines. However bills 28, 29 and 30 all look to increase that amount. Bill 28, introduced by Council Chairman Tommy Waters, would require wind turbines to be placed at least 1.25 miles away from all . . . Complete story »
