Publish Date : 27-Feb-2012
First Wind, an independent U.S. based wind energy company, today celebrated the start of construction of its 69-megawatt (MW) Kawailoa Wind project on Kamehameha Schools\' Kawailoa Plantation lands on Oahu\'s North Shore. Once complete, Kawailoa Wind will be the largest wind energy facility in Hawaii. The site\'s thirty 2.3 MW Siemens wind turbines will have the capacity to generate enough clean, renewable wind energy to power the equivalent of approximately 14,500 homes on the island, or as much as five percent of Oahu\'s annual electrical demand.
During a groundbreaking ceremony on the project site, First Wind officials were joined by U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii\'s Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz, State Senator Mike Gabbard and Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle, along with several other state and local leaders, who shared comments on the project\'s significance.
\"This groundbreaking for Kawailoa Wind is an historic occasion for Hawaii because, as the largest wind project ever in the state, it will harness enough clean, sustainable energy to provide power for thousands of families on Oahu,\" said Senator Akaka. \"Renewable electricity production makes our islands more energy self-sufficient, environmentally sustainable, and secure, which is critically important now and for future generations.\"
Lt. Gov. Schatz added, \"This is the largest wind farm in Hawai\'i\'s history, and it shows the progress we are making toward our clean energy goals. This is a great day for Hawai\'i. We\'ve moved from talking about renewable energy to actually doing it.\"
\"Clean energy projects are a priority for the City and County of Honolulu because they are a priority for our future,\" said Mayor Carlisle. \"When completed, the Kawailoa Wind project will be able to produce clean, renewable energy to power more than 14,500 Oahu homes. Projects like this will benefit and position our city for the future.\"
In December 2011, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved a power purchase agreement between First Wind and the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), which serves more than 400,000 Hawaii customers. Hawaii state law mandates 70 percent clean energy for electricity and surface transportation by 2030, with 40 percent coming from local renewable sources. Kawailoa Wind will significantly advance the state\'s progress toward these goals.
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