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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.
Concerned resident alleges BOE ignored public input on Kahuku turbines built near schools
Another battle tied to the controversial Na Pua Makani turbines in Kahuku: one resident has filed a lawsuit against the Board of Education. During a virtual court hearing this morning, Sunny Unga alleged the BOE held secret meetings and ignored public input before commenting on an environmental impact statement for the construction of windmills near Kahuku Elementary School. Two of Unga’s three children are students there –and she fears the constant noise will impact their learning. “It should not be . . . Complete story »
‘Too big, too close’: Kahuku residents picket to stop wind turbine project
Turbines at Na Pua Makani wind-farm in Kahuku were officially connected to Hawaiian Electric’s grid on Tuesday. It’s a milestone for developer AES, and another reason to picket for residents. About 50 people today waved signs with captions like “Too Big – Too Close.” Demonstrators have been sharing their displeasure over the project for more than a year now. Sen. Gil Riviere, who represents Kahuku, said he and the non-profit Keep the North Shore Country filed a contested case a few . . . Complete story »
Controversial Kahuku wind project being connected to electric grid
Hawaiian Electric crews have started utility work to connect the wind turbines from the controversial Na Pua Makani project in Kahuku to the electric grid. In a news release, Hawaiian Electric said it is installing overhead power lines along Kamehameha Highway to connect the project’s eight, 568-foot turbines to the grid. The utility work could continue until today. Opponents lined the highway today to demonstrate against the project. “We had about 50 people turn out to voice their displeasure about . . . Complete story »
Kahuku wind farm grid connection to impact drivers in Kahuku this week
Work to connect the Nā Pua Makani wind energy project to the electric grid may cause a slow-down for drivers in Kahuku on Tuesday. Hawaiian Electric utility work will require the lane closure of Kamehameha Highway. Work is set for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, with the possibility of work continuing the next day. The work will close the mauka lane of Kamehameha Highway between St. Roch Catholic Church and Malaekahana Valley Road. Crews will be framing and . . . Complete story »
Hawaii Supreme Court asked to block opening of controversial wind project
Non-profit organization Keep The North Shore Country issued a press release about a request sent to the Hawaii Supreme Court to block the opening of the Na Pua Makani wind energy project in Kahuku. The press release is as follows: “Keep the North Shore Country (KNSC) has requested the Hawai’i Supreme Court to order a stay of AES/Na Pua Makani’s (NPM) license to kill endangered species for its Kahuku wind turbine project pending the Court’s decision on KNSC’s appeal. The . . . Complete story »
Senators put off vote for land board nominee
Chris Yuen, a long-time member of the state’s Board of Land and Natural Resources, could find himself in the hot seat in front of a panel of senators on his way to a reconfirmation vote. While Yuen received much support for his renomination, he also faced criticism from opponents of projects that were approved under the auspices of the BLNR. Specifically, the Na Pua Makani wind farm in Kahuku. Protests over the wind farms saw scores of Oahu residents arrested . . . Complete story »
35-MW wind farm is proposed in Ulupalakua
Auwahi Wind is seeking to build another wind farm with up to seven turbines and a generating capacity of 35 megawatts adjacent to its existing facility on Ulupalakua Ranch land on the leeward slopes of Haleakala. According to an Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice, Auwahi 2 Wind Farm Project also will include an energy storage system, a substation and 34.5-kilovolt generator tie lines, all located next to the existing wind project infrastructure. Auwahi’s current wind farm, which went online in . . . Complete story »
Lawsuit: closed-door board of ed meeting violated sunshine law
A Kahuku mom says school officials aren’t listening to community concerns over giant wind turbines going up in the neighborhood. Now, Sunny Kim Unga is suing the state Board of Education for shutting her out of a meeting where she hoped to convince board members to accept public input. A lawsuit filed recently in First Circuit Court says the BOE violated the state’s open meetings law when it decided behind closed doors to reject her request. Unga, the mother of . . . Complete story »
Residents and policymakers battle over Hawaii wind energy projects
Concerns about renewable energy projects are spreading from street protests to the halls of lawmaking bodies, as state and local legislators are considering measures that could hinder the ability to build the solar and wind farms needed for the state to meet its clean energy goals. Both the Hawaii Legislature and the Honolulu City Council were considering measures that restrict the placement of wind farms, such as AES Corp.’s controversial Na Pua Makani project in Kahuku on Oahu’s North Shore. . . . Complete story »
Developer of Palehua Wind farm in Waianae withdraws its bid
Palehua Wind, a 46.8-megawatt wind farm proposed for Waianae on Oahu has been scrapped after four years of planning, according to Eurus Energy America, the company that was developing it. In a statement posted to the project’s website, Eurus said it had withdrawn its bid. “After dedicating four years to develop the Palehua Wind project in West Oahu, Eurus Energy America has decided to withdraw its bid,” said Eurus in its statement. “After much consideration, the risk factors associated with . . . Complete story »
